SPHINGIDAE OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

hemaris thysbe

(fabricius, 1775)

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Common Name(s): Hummingbird Clearwing Moth

Ecology and Life History:
This moth is active from May through September across most of its range. In some parts of the deep South, it may be present throughout most of the year. This is a diurnal species of Sphingidae and as such, it is not attracted to artificial lights set out at night. Instead, this species is most commonly seen taking nectar from flowers mid-day. Males and females are not sexually dimorphic and have the same wing maculations. Males in general tend to be slightly smaller than females, and have a thinner more pointed abdomen. Females tend to be slightly larger and have a rounder, blunt-tipped abdomen. In most species of Hemaris, sexing the adults can be quite difficult when they’re flying. Eggs are laid singly on the leaves and stems of hostplants. Young larvae feed on the undersides of the leaves, hiding along the mid-vein. Older larvae feed conspicuously at night, and can often be found in the open. During the day, they may retreat to the lower stems toward the base of the plant. Older larvae come in two distinct color forms, a green form and a brown form. Sometimes, there are intermediate color forms observed like pink or yellow, though these are more commonly associated with pupation.


Habitat and Searching for Larvae:
Larvae seem to prefer Viburnum as a host, though they’ll also consume other plants. It is quite possible that records for this species on Lonicera are incorrect, and rather the larva was mis-identified as Hemaris diffinis. Larvae can be found virtually anywhere on the plant. We have had luck searching isolated Viburnum along powerline cuts and marshes. Young larvae tend to be on newer growth, though this is not a hard rule. This is a species that inhabits parks, yards, urban areas, marshes, wetlands, fields, fencerows, and edge habitats. It is quite ubiquitous. It is not often found in deep, dense forests. Larvae can be found from June through October across most of its range. In the Deep South, larvae may be present year-round. This species fluoresces brightly under UV light, making this a great way to survey for larvae.
​


Rearing Notes:
Eggs can be obtained from adult females with the proper setup. Adults need natural sunlight to pair and lay eggs. Keeping a female in a screen enclosure with a potted hostplant and a nectar source in bright sun will likely yield eggs. This is a species that prefers Viburnum over most other plants. We have had most luck finding and rearing this species on Viburnum dentatum over any other plants. This species is not highly susceptible to disease when rearing in captivity. When rearing a large number of larvae together, it is best to rear them in a screen cage to prevent humidity build up. When there is sustained high humidity, the larvae are much more likely to die. Crowding can be an issue in this species, we recommend not rearing larvae in tupperware in high densities (over 15 larvae). In a screen cage, this can be increased (30-40). When rearing on a sleeved plant, as many larvae as can fit on the plant is usually ok. Pupation is easy to achieve using the Paper Towel Method (outlined on the general information tab of this website). Alternatively, a soil or soilless substrate can be used.

Host plants:
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Cloud Database by Caspio
Picture
(C) Teá Montagna
Picture
Picture
Adult description: 
This is a small day-flying sphingid with forewing length of only 23-28mm (2). All the Hemaris species have clear areas on the wings rather than being typically colored and scaled like in other genera. This is a widespread species, found in many habitats. It can be fairly variable in appearance. The thorax is generally greenish-yellow or brown. There are two or so reddish segments on the abdomen, but the rest of the abdomen is the same color as the thorax. Tuttle notes that the lack of two distinct red bands that run down the ventral surface of the moth from eyes to abdomen which will help separate this moth out from Hemaris gracilis (2). You can also examine the forewing cell. In this species, the forewing cell has a distinctive vein running through the middle of it.

Larval description:
L5:  The larva is green (or brown) in color and generally has a granulose yellow collar behind the head. The horn is bluish in color and granulose. The spiracles are red, but bordered by white, which helps separate it from Hemaris gracilis. There are two white stripes that run the length of the larva dorsally which end at the horn. The dorsal section of the larva between the white stripes may be more blue than the rest of the larva.
The gallery to the left contains photos of Hemaris thysbe adults. If you have a photo that you would like to submit to us, please contact us.

The gallery to the right contains photos of Hemaris thysbe larval and pupal stages. If you have a photo that you would like to submit to us, please contact us.
(C) William J. Lucas, Jr.
(C) Jon Mularczyk
(C) Teá Montagna
(C) Maya Shikhman
(C) Teá Montagna
(C) Teá Montagna
(C) Teá Montagna
(C) Teá Montagna
(C) Teá Montagna
(C) Teá Montagna
L5 (C) Ashley Bosarge
L4 (C) Ashley Bosarge
L3 (C) Ashley Bosarge
L5 (C) Ashley Bosarge
L4 (C) Jon Mularczyk - Being parasitized by wasp
L4 (C) Jon Mularczyk - Being parasitized by wasp
L5 (C) Teá Montagna
L5 (C) Teá Montagna
L5 (C) Teá Montagna
L5 (C) Teá Montagna
L5 (C) Teá Montagna
L5 (C) Teá Montagna
L5 - (C) Teá Montagna
L5 - (C) Teá Montagna
L5 - (C) Teá Montagna
L5 - (C) Teá Montagna
L3 - (C) Teá Montagna
L4 - (C) Teá Montagna
L4 - (C) Teá Montagna
L4 - (C) Teá Montagna
L4 - (C) Teá Montagna
L3 - (C) Teá Montagna
L4 - (C) Teá Montagna
L3 - (C) Teá Montagna
L5 - (C) Teá Montagna
L4 - (C) Teá Montagna
Eggs - (C) Teá Montagna
Eggs - (C) Teá Montagna
L5 - (C) Teá Montagna
L5 - (C) Teá Montagna
L5 - (C) Teá Montagna
L3 and L4 - (C) Teá Montagna
L5 - (C) Teá Montagna
L5 - (C) Teá Montagna
L5 - (C) Teá Montagna
Pupa - (C) Teá Montagna
Pupa - (C) Teá Montagna
Pupa - (C) Teá Montagna
Pupa - (C) Teá Montagna
Pupa - (C) Teá Montagna

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Macroglossinae

Aellopos clavipes
Aellopos fadus
Aellopos tantalus
Aellopos titan
Amphion floridensis
Cautethia grotei
Callionima falcifera
Callionima parce
Darapsa choerilus
Darapsa myron
Darapsa versicolor
Deidemia inscriptum
Enyo lugubris
Enyo ocypete
Erinnyis alope
Erinnyis crameri
Erinnyis ello
Erinnyis guttularis
Erinnyis lassauxii
Erinnyis oenotrus
Erinnyis obscura
Eumorpha achemon
Eumorpha fasciatus
Eumorpha intermedia
Eumorpha labruscae
Eumorpha pandorus
Eumorpha satellitia
Eumorpha vitis
Eumorpha typhon
Eupyrrhoglossum sagra​
Hemaris diffinis
Hemaris gracilis
Hemaris thysbe
Hyles euphorbiae
Hyles gallii
Hyles lineata
Madoryx pseudothyreus
Pachylioides resumens
Pachylia ficus
Perigonia lusca
Phryxus caicus
Proserpinus flavofasciata
Proserpinus juanita
Proserpinus gaurae
Proserpinus lucidus
Pseudosphinx tetrio
Sphecodina abbottii
Xylophanes falco
Xylophanes pluto
Xylophanes libya
Xylophanes porcus
Xylophanes tersa

Smerinthinae

Protambulyx strigilis
Amorpha juglandis
Pachysphinx modesta
Pachysphinx occidentalis
Paonias astylus
Paonias excaecata
Paonias myops
Smerinthus cerisyi
Smerinthus jamaicensis

Sphinginae

Agrius cingulata
Ceratomia amyntor
Ceratomia catalpae
Ceratomia hageni
Ceratomia undulosa
Cocytius antaeus
Cocytius duponchel
Dolba hyloeus
Isoparce cupressi
Lapara bombycoides
Lapara coniferarum
Lintneria istar
Lintneria separatus
Lintneria eremitus
Manduca jasminearum
Manduca occulta
Manduca brontes cubensis
Manduca florestan
Manduca muscosa
Manduca quinquemaculatus
Manduca rustica
Manduca sexta
Neococytius cluentius
Paratrea plebeja
Sphinx canadensis
Sphinx chersis
Sphinx dollii
Sphinx drupiferarum
Sphinx frankii
Sphinx gordius
Sphinx kalmiae
Sphinx leucophaeata
Sphinx luscitiosa
Sphinx pinastri
Sphinx poecila 
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  • Home
  • Sphingidae Index
    • Macroglossinae >
      • Aellopos >
        • Aellopos clavipes
        • Aellopos fadus
        • Aellopos tantalus
        • Aellopos titan
      • Amphion >
        • Amphion floridensis
      • Callionima >
        • Callionima falcifera
        • Callionima parce
      • Cautethia >
        • Cautethia grotei
      • Darapsa >
        • Darapsa versicolor
        • Darapsa myron
        • Darapsa choerilus
      • Deidamia >
        • Deidamia inscriptum
      • Enyo >
        • Enyo lugubris
        • Enyo ocypete
      • Erinnyis >
        • Erinnyis alope
        • Erinnyis crameri
        • Erinnyis ello
        • Erinnyis guttularis
        • Erinnyis lassauxii
        • Erinnyis oenotrus
        • Erinnyis obscura
      • Eumorpha >
        • Eumorpha pandorus
        • Eumorpha achemon
        • Eumorpha fasciatus
        • Eumorpha satellitia
        • Eumorpha labruscae
        • Eumorpha intermedia
        • Eumorpha vitis
        • Eumorpha typhon
      • Eupyrrhoglossum >
        • Eupyrrhoglossum sagra
      • Hemaris >
        • Hemaris thysbe
        • Hemaris gracilis
        • Hemaris diffinis
        • Hemaris aethra
      • Hyles >
        • Hyles gallii
        • Hyles euphorbiae
        • Hyles lineata
      • Madoryx >
        • Madoryx pseudothyreus
      • Pachylioides >
        • Pachylioides resumens
      • Pachylia >
        • Pachylia ficus
      • Phryxus >
        • Phryxus caicus
      • Perigonia >
        • Perigonia lusca
      • Proserpinus >
        • Proserpinus juanita
        • Proserpinus flavofasciata
        • Proserpinus gaurae
        • Proserpinus lucidus
        • Proserpinus terlooii
      • Pseudosphinx >
        • Pseudosphinx tetrio
      • Sphecodina >
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      • Xylophanes >
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        • Xylophanes libya
        • Xylophanes pluto
        • Xylophanes porcus
        • Xylophanes tersa
    • Smerinthinae >
      • Amorpha >
        • Amorpha juglandis
      • Pachysphinx >
        • Pachysphinx modesta
        • Pachysphinx occidentalis
      • Paonias >
        • Paonias excaecata
        • Paonias myops
        • Paonias astylus
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        • Protambulyx strigilis
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        • Smerinthus jamaicensis
        • Smerinthus cerisyi
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