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Hummingbird Moth

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"Hummingbird moth" is the colloquial name for the Common Clearwing (Hemaris thysbe), one of the sphinx moth family. The reason for the nickname is obvious the first time you see one of these intriguing moths. Hummingbird moths feed on the nectar of flowers in a manner similar to that of a hummingbird: hovering with the body stationary by the blossom, wings beating so fast as to be nearly invisible, flared "tail" and having a long probiscis protruding beaklike into the blossom. In flight, the wings create a soft buzzing, also like a hummingbird.

The Common Clearwing is considerably smaller than our native Ruby-throated Hummingbird, only about 1-1/2 inch long versus 3 inch long. Its plump body tapers at either end to form a spindle shape. When the adult moth emerges from its crysalis, its wings are covered with reddish brown scales; but, after the initial flight, the scales fall off the central part, leaving transparent centers that give them their name "clearwing." The body color is variable, but they typically have an olive green back, with a wide, reddish brown band. Males usually have a tuft at the back end of the abdomen, which mimics the spread tail feathers of a hovering hummingbird.
 

A hummingbird moth starts out as a plump, yellowish green caterpillar, with darker green lines along the back, reddish brown spots on the abdomen, and a yellow tail horn. It feeds on the leaves of plants in the honeysuckle family, including snowberry and viburnum. The clearwing "hornworm" spins a cocoon around itself in leaf litter on the ground, and pupates over the winter, emerging as a moth in late spring or early summer.

The adult moths have the very unmothlike behavior of flying in full daylight, hovering at flower blossoms, and feeding on nectar. They can be found in a wide variety of habitats, from open meadows or forest edge to the most cultivated of gardens, and in Massachusetts are typically seen only between June and August.

It takes a certain amount of luck to see a hummingbird moth, but you can increase your chances by being aware of which flowers are producing nectar at any time. When the nectar is at its prime, it will attract many insects, including bees, butterflies, and - perhaps - a hummingbird moth.