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 217 - 240 of 1977 verified sightings
Observation date: Aug 02, 2021
Submitted by: aproa001
Region: Virginia, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Sep 01, 2021
Observation date: Aug 31, 2021
Submitted by: Bonnie Quandt
Region: Pulaski County, Arkansas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Aug 31, 2021
Observation date: Aug 28, 2021
Submitted by: Spunkybart
Region: Richmond, Virginia, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Aug 29, 2021
Observation date: Jul 24, 2021
Submitted by: Eric Hartshaw
Region: Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Aug 23, 2021
Observation date: Jul 15, 2021
Submitted by: Kandicecoxwrites
Region: Washington County, Arkansas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Aug 23, 2021
Observation date: Aug 16, 2021
Submitted by: Christybud
Region: Saline County, Kansas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Aug 23, 2021
Observation date: Aug 21, 2021
Submitted by: Lovies18104
Region: Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Aug 21, 2021
Observation date: Aug 15, 2021
Submitted by: John LeBlanc
Region: Chesterfield County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Aug 20, 2021
Observation date: Aug 15, 2021
Submitted by: Blue Swallowtail
Region: Cass County, Nebraska, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Aug 18, 2021
Observation date: Aug 14, 2021
Submitted by: hollyhoitink
Region: Winnebago County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Ilona L.
Verified date: Aug 15, 2021
Observation date: Aug 20, 2020
Submitted by: John LeBlanc
Region: Chesterfield County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Aug 15, 2021
Observation date: Aug 10, 2021
Submitted by: G Glover
Region: Bexar County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Aug 14, 2021
Observation date: Aug 12, 2021
Submitted by: dixiechicken_82
Region: Muscogee County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Aug 14, 2021
Observation date: Aug 03, 2021
Submitted by: Chris Wolfe
Region: Pottawattamie County, Iowa, United States
Verified by: jamesdurbin
Verified date: Aug 12, 2021
Observation date: Aug 03, 2021
Submitted by: Chris Wolfe
Region: Pottawattamie County, Iowa, United States
Verified by: jamesdurbin
Verified date: Aug 12, 2021
Observation date: Aug 10, 2021
Submitted by: 4o4n0tf0und
Region: Columbia County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Aug 12, 2021
Observation date: Aug 09, 2021
Submitted by: John LeBlanc
Region: Chesterfield County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Aug 10, 2021
Observation date: Aug 09, 2021
Submitted by: Holly Napierala
Region: Marathon County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Ilona L.
Verified date: Aug 09, 2021
Observation date: Aug 08, 2021
Submitted by: John LeBlanc
Region: Chesterfield County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Aug 08, 2021
Observation date: Aug 04, 2021
Submitted by: Christine Stanke
Region: Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Ilona L.
Verified date: Aug 06, 2021
Observation date: Aug 03, 2021
Submitted by: wolfegrl3
Region: Texas, Lubbock County, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Aug 05, 2021
Observation date: Aug 04, 2021
Submitted by: yita19
Region: Texas, McLennan County, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Aug 05, 2021
Observation date: Jun 15, 2020
Submitted by: pgrew1@unl.edu
Region: Penobscot County, Maine, United States
Verified by: Sue Gregoire
Verified date: Aug 05, 2021
Observation date: Aug 04, 2021
Submitted by: John LeBlanc
Region: Chesterfield County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Aug 04, 2021
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