Snowberry Clearwing

hemaris diffinis

The Snowberry Clearwing is a fascinating diurnal moth that routinely fools casual observers into thinking they have spotted a bumblebee. Belonging to the sphinx moth family, this remarkable insect is a master of mimicry, boasting a fuzzy yellow and black body that brilliantly deters potential predators. As they dart from flower to flower, their rapid wingbeats and hovering feeding style often draw comparisons to tiny hummingbirds. Beyond its clever disguise, the Snowberry Clearwing is a vibrant participant in North American ecosystems. They are vital pollinators, visiting a wide variety of blooming plants during the warm daylight hours. Their distinctive appearance and energetic daytime activity make them a favorite among garden enthusiasts and nature spotters, offering a perfect example of nature's ingenious evolutionary adaptations. For quick identification of Snowberry Clearwing during outdoor trips, download the Snappit app.

Habitat: Typically found in sunny meadows, woodland edges, suburban gardens, and open fields where their host plants and nectar sources are abundant.

Appearance

The Snowberry Clearwing features a stout, fuzzy body with striking yellow and black banding, closely resembling a bumblebee. Upon emerging from the pupa, their wings are covered in dark scales, but these shed during their very first flight, leaving behind largely transparent wings with dark reddish-brown to black borders and distinct dark veins. They possess a wingspan of roughly 3.5 to 5 centimeters. Look for their long, curled proboscis uncoiling to probe deep into flowers as they hover in mid-air.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumArthropodaClassInsectaOrderLepidopteraFamilySphingidaeGenusHemaris

Snowberry Clearwing

Interesting facts

Because they fly during the day and hover while feeding, many people mistake them for baby hummingbirds.

Despite their name, 'clearwings' actually hatch with fully scaled wings; the scales simply fall off in the wind during their first flight.

They overwinter underground in the pupa stage, wrapped in a dark brown cocoon spun among leaf litter.

When threatened, the caterpillars of this moth will thrash back and forth violently or drop to the ground to escape predators.

Special abilities

The moth mimics the visual appearance, buzzing sound, and fuzzy texture of a bumblebee, deterring predators that associate this pattern with a painful sting.

Like hummingbirds, they can hover perfectly still in mid-air while extending their long proboscis to drink nectar from deep-throated flowers.

Their wings are fully scaled upon hatching, but they are specially adapted to shed most of these scales during their maiden flight to achieve a transparent appearance.

Measurements & details

Length: 2-4 cm
Wingspan: 3-5 cm
Weight: 0.001-0.003 kg
Lifespan: 0-1 years
Top Speed: 19 km/h
Clutch Size: 100-200
Incubation: 6-8 days

Diet & Feeding

As larvae, they consume the foliage of specific host plants, while adults exclusively drink nectar from a variety of flowering plants.

Age differences: Caterpillars are foliage chewers that feed on host plants like snowberry and honeysuckle, whereas mature adults are flying pollinators that consume only liquid nectar.