Hummingbird Clearwing, Snowberry Clearwing & NESSUS SPHINX
Hummingbird Clearwing Moth. These lovely
moths resemble baby hummingbirds in both flight and appearance, but they are actually a type of day-flying sphinx moth.
Snowberry Clearwing moth. These moths resemble large bumblebees, and they are sometimes known as Bumblebee Moths. The individual at left was photographed beside the Great Miami River in Miamisburg.
Snowberry Clearwings typically fly from late June through early September, although I also have a few early sightings in April and May.
Hummingbird Clearwings have red and green bodies and white legs. Their close relatives, Snowberry Clearwings (further below), have black and yellow bodies and black legs.
This is a Nessus Sphinx. He was drinking minerals at wet sand along a riverbank. I found him at Germantown MetroPark on June 3, 2017. I almost overlooked this moth because I was focused on looking for clubtail dragonflies at the time. I saw this bug out of the corner of my eye, and I thought he was some type of wasp or hornet. I was trying to figure out how to get around him without getting stung, when I realized I was actually seeing my first (and much sought-after) Nessus Sphinx moth!
This Hummingbird Clearwing Moth was nectaring at his favorite flower (wild bergamot).
Another Nessus Sphinx, also found at Germantown MetroPark. Photographed June 10, 2020.
Another Snowberry Clearwing, nectaring on wild bergamot. Notice the black legs. (A Hummingbird Clearwing would have white legs.)
Mated pair of Snowberry Clearwings at Germantown MetroPark.
Hummingbird Clearwing Moth nectaring on bottlebrush buckeye. These moths are very common in our area from late June through August (with stragglers into September). I have one early sighting on May 1st, but I usually do not see this species until late June.
Snowberry Clearwing resting on a spent dandelion stem, at Caesar Creek.