Snowberry Clearwing
Hemaris diffinis (Boisduval, 1836)
Family: Sphingidae
Subfamily: Macroglossinae
Identification: Adults are quite variable in appearance; Bumblebee mimic. The thorax is golden or olive-golden in color, abdomen is black dorsally with 1-2 segments just prior to terminal end being yellow to various extent, while black ventrally. H. diffinis is the only eastern species to exhibit blue abdominal tufts on the first black segment in some freshly emerged specimens. Wings mostly clear with reddish brown terminal borders and dark scaling along veins. While wing maculation is too variable to be 100% diagnostic, diffinis typically has very thin terminal borders and the discal cell is elongate and without scales. However, diffinis can always be distinguished from gracilis and thysbe by two diagnostic characteristics: 1) the black band that crosses the eye and travels down the lateral side of the thorax; 2) diffinis always has black legs.
Wing Span: 1 1/4 - 2 inches (3.2 - 5 cm).
Life History: Adults fly swiftly during the day. Caterpillars pupate in cocoons spun in leaf litter on the ground.
Flight: Two broods from March-August.
Caterpillar Hosts: Snowberry (Symphoricarpos), honeysuckle (Lonicera), dogbane (Apocynum), and dwarf bush honeysuckle (Diervilla lonicera).
Adult Food: Nectar from flowers including lantana, dwarf bush honeysuckle, snowberry, orange hawkweed, thistles, lilac, and Canada violet.
Habitat: A wide variety of open habitats, streamsides, fields, gardens, and suburbs.
Range: East of the Continental Divide, through most of the United States to Maine and Florida. Some overlap with Hemaris thetis just east of the Divide.
Conservation: Not usually required.
NCGR: G5 - Demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.
Management Needs: None reported.
Comments: new description from coordinator Jason D. Roberts added 8/2009.
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 361 - 384 of 1978 verified sightings
Observation date: Aug 24, 2020
Submitted by: SusanB
Region: Jefferson County, Kentucky, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Aug 25, 2020
Observation date: Aug 23, 2020
Submitted by: Vjf1230
Region: Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Aug 25, 2020
Observation date: Aug 13, 2020
Submitted by: Stephen G.
Region: Benton County, Arkansas, United States
Verified by: Stephen G.
Verified date: Aug 23, 2020
Observation date: Aug 22, 2020
Submitted by: alaimins
Region: DuPage County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Aug 23, 2020
Observation date: Aug 22, 2020
Submitted by: pabirdermoore
Region: Clarion County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Aug 22, 2020
Observation date: Aug 12, 2020
Submitted by: hnconner
Region: Wicomico County, Maryland, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Aug 21, 2020
Observation date: Aug 02, 2020
Submitted by: kristenej
Region: Westchester County, New York, United States
Verified by: Sue Gregoire
Verified date: Aug 21, 2020
Observation date: Jul 18, 2020
Submitted by: kristenej
Region: Westchester County, New York, United States
Verified by: Sue Gregoire
Verified date: Aug 20, 2020
Observation date: Jul 27, 2020
Submitted by: kristenej
Region: Westchester County, New York, United States
Verified by: Sue Gregoire
Verified date: Aug 20, 2020
Observation date: Aug 18, 2020
Submitted by: PollyJ
Region: Greenville County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Aug 20, 2020
Observation date: Aug 19, 2020
Submitted by: Ldel
Region: Forsyth County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Aug 20, 2020
Observation date: Aug 19, 2020
Submitted by: csfamilyfarms
Region: Madison County, Indiana, United States
Verified by: Howell_Curtis
Verified date: Aug 20, 2020
Observation date: Jul 28, 2020
Submitted by: kristenej
Region: Westchester County, New York, United States
Verified by: Sue Gregoire
Verified date: Aug 20, 2020
Observation date: Jul 18, 2020
Submitted by: kristenej
Region: Westchester County, New York, United States
Verified by: Sue Gregoire
Verified date: Aug 20, 2020
Observation date: Jul 29, 2020
Submitted by: kristenej
Region: Westchester County, New York, United States
Verified by: Sue Gregoire
Verified date: Aug 19, 2020
Observation date: Aug 18, 2020
Submitted by: John LeBlanc
Region: Chesterfield County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Aug 18, 2020
Observation date: Aug 17, 2020
Submitted by: Julburl
Region: Harford County, Maryland, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Aug 17, 2020
Observation date: Aug 15, 2020
Submitted by: John LeBlanc
Region: Chesterfield County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Aug 16, 2020
Observation date: Aug 15, 2020
Submitted by: Eddie Wyatt
Region: Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Aug 15, 2020
Observation date: Aug 14, 2020
Submitted by: kzmmrmn
Region: Northampton County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Aug 15, 2020
Observation date: Aug 14, 2020
Submitted by: Christine Stanke
Region: Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Ilona L.
Verified date: Aug 15, 2020
Observation date: Aug 13, 2020
Submitted by: John LeBlanc
Region: Chesterfield County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Aug 13, 2020
Observation date: Aug 13, 2020
Submitted by: nch5013
Region: Jackson County, West Virginia, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Aug 13, 2020
Observation date: Jul 12, 2019
Submitted by: meadowglenfarm
Region: Scott County, Indiana, United States
Verified by: Howell_Curtis
Verified date: Aug 13, 2020
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