Orange Co., NC
16 Apr 2009
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. Hummingbird Moths are in the family Sphingidae. |
Hummingbird Clearwing, Hummingbird Moth (Hemaris thysbe) Orange Co., NC 16 Apr 2009 |
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Hummingbird Clearwing, Hummingbird Moth (Hemaris thysbe) Duke Gardens, Durham, NC 30 Sep 2007 |
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| Duke Gardens, Durham, NC 30 Sep 2007 |
New Hanover Co., NC 26 Aug 2006 |
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| New Hanover Co., NC 26 Aug 2006 |
New Hanover Co., NC 26 Aug 2006 |
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Duke Gardens, Durham, NC 18 Sep 2007 This worn individual lacked the maroon coloration often seen in this species, but note wide border (with uneven innner edge) of brownish scales on forewings. |
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| Hummingbird Moth, Clearwing Moth (Hemaris thysbe) On Butterflybush, Durham Co., NC 6 July 2013 |
Hummingbird Moth, Clearwing Moth (Hemaris thysbe) On Butterflybush, Durham Co., NC 6 July 2013 |
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| Hummingbird Moth, Clearwing Moth (Hemaris thysbe) On Butterflybush, Durham Co., NC 6 July 2013 |
Hummingbird Moth, Clearwing Moth (Hemaris thysbe) On Butterflybush, Durham Co., NC 6 July 2013 |
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.
Created on ... Sep 8, 2006 | jeffpippen9@gmail.com