Moths of North Carolina
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145 NC Records

Hemaris diffinis (Boisduval, 1836) - Snowberry Clearwing Moth

Hemaris diffinisHemaris diffinisHemaris diffinis
view caption 		Hemaris diffinis
Taxonomy
Superfamily: Bombycoidea Family: SphingidaeSubfamily: MacroglossinaeTribe: DilophonotiniP3 Number: 890204.5 MONA Number: 7855.00
Comments: A Holarctic genus of 20 species of which 5 occur in North America and 4 in North Carolina. They are often called hummingbird or bumblebee moths, and are among the best known sphingids to North Carolinians.
Species Status: The barcodes for Hemaris diffinis indicate complexity out west but our populations seem to be a single species.
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Covell (1984); Beadle and Leckie (2012)Online Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Adults: Forbes (1948); Hodges (1971); Tuttle (2007)Technical Description, Immature Stages: Forbes (1948); Wagner (2005); Tuttle (2007)                                                                                 
Adult Markings: Adults have a yellowish thorax and probably are mimics of bumblebees or carpenter bees; they can also be recognized by the narrow black margin to the clear area on the hindwing -- in our other two species the black border is quite wide. The legs are black in Hemaris diffinis but white in H. thysbe and reddish in H. gracilis. Sexes are similar.
Wingspan: 3.5 - 5 cm (Covell, 1984)
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Immatures and Development: Larva are granulated like other Hemaris species, but lack the subdorsal line found in H. thysbe and H. gracilis. Spiracles are surrounded by dark circular patches; the horn is black with a yellow patch at the base (see Wagner, 2005, for additional details). Pupation occurs underground.
Larvae ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos, especially where associated with known host plants.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: Records from the Mountains are few but the species is certainly common across the Piedmont and Coastal Plain.
County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.
Flight Dates:
 High Mountains (HM) ≥ 4,000 ft.
 Low Mountains (LM) < 4,000 ft.
 Piedmont (Pd)
 Coastal Plain (CP)

Click on graph to enlarge
Immature Dates:
 High Mountains (HM) ≥ 4,000 ft.
 Low Mountains (LM) < 4,000 ft.
 Piedmont (Pd)
 Coastal Plain (CP)

Click on graph to enlarge
Flight Comments: Probably two broods over most of the state.
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: Records for adults come from a variety of open habitats, ranging from Barrier Islands, beaver pond wetlands, to open fields and gardens. Larvae may occur anywhere where honeysuckles grow, which includes most wooded areas in the state as well as ruderal lands and other disturbed habitats.
Larval Host Plants: Oligophagous, feeding on members of the Caprifoliaceae, including honeysuckles and snowberry. Wagner (2007) reports dogbane and Amsonia are also foodplants. In North Carolina, we have larval records from both native Coral Honeysuckle and the exotic, invasive Japanese Honeysuckle. - View
Observation Methods: Diurnal, the species does not fly at night nor visit bait. Like butterflies, this species should be sought nectaring at flowers. Look for adults visiting flowers in fields and gardens that border or are close to wooded areas and fencerows where honeysuckle is growing.
Wikipedia
See also Habitat Account for General Mixed Habitats
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: G5 [S5]
State Protection: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.
Comments: Its statewide occurrence and use of a wide range of habitat types, including developed areas, makes it secure in the state.

 Photo Gallery for Hemaris diffinis - Snowberry Clearwing Moth

115 photos are available. Only the most recent 30 are shown.

Recorded by: Nora Murdock, Robert Emmott, Marilyn Westphal on 2024-08-21
Haywood Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Nora Murdock, Robert Emmott, Marilyn Westphal on 2024-08-21
Haywood Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: K. Bischof on 2024-08-20
Transylvania Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Stephen Dunn on 2024-08-20
Orange Co.
Comment: On Lonicera sempervirens.
Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-07-21
Wilson Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: DJ Freeman on 2024-07-19
Davidson Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Simpson Eason on 2024-06-28
Durham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Morgan Freese on 2024-06-27
Buncombe Co.
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Recorded by: Morgan Freese on 2024-06-27
Buncombe Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Tina Fulcher on 2024-06-17
Davidson Co.
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Recorded by: Stephen Dunn on 2024-05-29
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Stephen Dunn on 2024-05-29
Orange Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-05-20
Montgomery Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: David George, Steve Hall, Gary Perlmutter, Blanka Aguero, Meriel Goodwin, Lisa Gatens on 2024-04-22
Chatham Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: David George, Stephen Dunn, Jeff Niznik on 2023-09-15
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: David George on 2023-09-09
Chatham Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: David George on 2023-09-08
Durham Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: David George on 2023-09-03
Durham Co.
Comment: feeding on Japanese Honeysuckle
Recorded by: Chuck Smith on 2023-08-23
Davidson Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Ken Kneidel on 2023-08-18
Catawba Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Ken Kneidel on 2023-08-18
Catawba Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Caleb Garner on 2023-08-18
Wake Co.
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Recorded by: Caleb Garner on 2023-08-18
Wake Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Caleb Garner on 2023-08-18
Wake Co.
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Recorded by: Travis McLain on 2023-08-09
Anson Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Marilyn Westphal on 2023-04-04
Henderson Co.
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Recorded by: Paul Hart on 2023-03-20
Harnett Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Chuck Smith on 2022-09-24
Davidson Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Mark Shields on 2022-08-27
Duplin Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: David George on 2022-08-23
Durham Co.
Comment: