Snowberry Clearwing (Hemaris diffinis)

by Jeffrey S. Pippen | Back to Jeff's Moths Page | Jeff's Nature Pages

Often mistaken as small hummingbirds or large bumblebees, these moths fly during the day and hover at flowers while sipping nectar. Note, the distinctive antennae, which distinguish them from hummingbirds! There are 3 species of Hemaris in North Carolina. Snowberry Clearwings are in the family Sphingidae.
Snowberry Clearwing (Hemaris diffinis)
Orange Co., NC
20 Sep 2020
Snowberry Clearwing (Hemaris diffinis)
Orange Co., NC
20 Sep 2020

Snowberry Clearwing (Hemaris diffinis) Snowberry Clearwing (Hemaris diffinis)
York Co., VA
21 Aug 2013

Snowberry Clearwing (Hemaris diffinis) Snowberry Clearwing (Hemaris diffinis)
Orange Co., NC
12 Sep 2007


Snowberry Clearwing (Hemaris diffinis) Snowberry Clearwing (Hemaris diffinis)
Durham Co., NC
9 May 2013
Snowberry Clearwing (Hemaris diffinis) Snowberry Clearwing (Hemaris diffinis)
Durham Co., NC
9 May 2013

Snowberry Clearwing (Hemaris diffinis) Snowberry Clearwing (Hemaris diffinis)
Orange Co., NC
12 Sep 2007


Snowberry Clearwing (Hemaris diffinis) Snowberry Clearwing (Hemaris diffinis)
Durham Co., NC
26 Aug 2006
Durham Co., NC
26 Aug 2006

Snowberry Clearwing (Hemaris diffinis) Snowberry Clearwing (Hemaris diffinis)
Catawba Co., NC
4 Aug 2012
Catawba Co., NC
4 Aug 2012

Snowberry Clearwing (Hemaris diffinis) caterpillar
Alamance Co., NC
12 Sep 2020

I spotted 6 different individuals of these caterpillars today on a planted honeysuckle cultivar in the yard.

Snowberry Clearwing (Hemaris diffinis) caterpillar
Alamance Co., NC
12 Sep 2020
Snowberry Clearwing (Hemaris diffinis) caterpillar
Alamance Co., NC
12 Sep 2020
Snowberry Clearwing (Hemaris diffinis) caterpillar
Alamance Co., NC
12 Sep 2020
Snowberry Clearwing (Hemaris diffinis) caterpillar
Alamance Co., NC
12 Sep 2020
Snowberry Clearwing (Hemaris diffinis) caterpillar
Alamance Co., NC
12 Sep 2020


Annotated habitat and distribution information listed above is from Radford, Ahles, & Bell. 1968. Manual of the Vascular Flora of the Carolinas. UNC Press; Alan Weakley's Flora of the Carolinas, Virginia, and Georgia; and from personal observations and discussions with Will Cook, Harry LeGrand, and Bob Wilbur. Supplemental resources include USDA plants website, and NatureServe.


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Created on ... Sep 8, 2006 | jeffpippen9@gmail.com