[MASSBIRD] Re: hummingbird moth

[Daan Sandee]

http://theworld.com/~sandee/jpg/hmot1.jpg
http://theworld.com/~sandee/jpg/hmot2.jpg

handheld, out of the kitchen window.
Posted to Massbird, with a "Subject: New ABA species ?"
That was in 2007.

Daan Sandee
Gloucester, MA
ssn...@theworld.com

[G M ARCHAMBAULT]

I'm curious about Daan's photo, since I happened to be watching my own video of apparently the same species of Hemaris moth in Ethiopia, so I checked and they appear to be identical in the abdomen pattern.  As far as I know, this species is an Old World species.  There are about 2 dozen Hemaris moth species worldwide, with 4 or 5 reported from North America, but I am not sure which species is in Daan's photo.  Daan, can you verify this photo was taken in Massachusetts?  Thanks.  Does anyone on this listserv have any expertise or intel re the Hemaris group?  Thank you. -Ken Archambault, Birmingham, Alabama

[Peter Trull]

The Clear-winged Sphinx Hemaris thysbe is a widespread nectaring moth. The big green tomato hornworm caterpillar is the larval stage of this moth.  Adult moths are frequently seen in numbers on butterfly bush, which has recently been determined as an invasive species.

Peter Trull

Brewster

pet...@comcast.net

[Catherine Fisher]

Both species of hummingbird moths common in Massachusetts (hummingbird clearwing and snowberry clearwing) are related to tomato hornworms, but tomato hornworms are the larval form of the five-spotted hawk moth. Hummingbird moths and the five-spotted hawk moth are members of the sphinx moth family.

C. Fisher

Lee, NH

[Daan Sandee]

incidentally, the date on those photos was July 30, 2007 - ten years ago
today.
I don't think I've seen one since, but I'm sure I'd seen one before. -- Daan

[Charlie]

We have quite a few H. thysbe this year for some reason.   No complaints.  They are pretty cool to watch.   I think the tomato horn worm is Manduca quinquemaculata  though, which is quite a bit bigger and does not have clear spots.  Can be mistaken for hummingbirds at a distance.  I have done this😊

 

Charlie Patterson

Norwell, Ma

chas...@comcast.net

 

Sent From Middle Earth

[Josh]

The two species of Hemaris sp. clearwing moths mentioned both feed on plants of the honeysuckle family as caterpillars. I’ve seen Snowberry Clearwing hornworms on Japanese Honeysuckle but they strongly prefer the native Coral (Lonicera sempervirens). BugGuide (a citizen science website for terrestrial arthropods) also mentions hawthorn, snowberry, and viburnum as larval hosts for the Hummingbird Clearwing, and snowberry, dogbane, and the native bush-honeysuckle Diervilla for the Snowberry. Massachusetts also has a third species, the Slender Clearwing (H. gracilis), which closely resembles the Snowberry, but whose hornworms feed on various species of blueberry and laurel.

For anyone interested in these, but not comfortable with the non-native Butterfly Bush, the adult hummingbird moths are also extremely fond of various species of Bee Balm (Monarda sp.). As are real hummingbirds (hey, look, I managed to mention an actual bird!), and also Monarchs.

Cheers,

Josh

Joshua S. Rose, Ph.D.
Amherst, MA
http://bugguide.net/user/view
https://www.facebook.com/opihi

[Charlie]

Thanks for the rundown Josh.  I am a little rusty on my sphinx moths.  I was unaware of the feeding preference but it makes sense.  With good rain (finally) our L. sempervirens is going to town and I see the adults on it all the time.

 

Charlie Patterson

Norwell, Ma

chas...@comcast.net

 

Sent From Middle Earth

 

From: Josh
Sent: Sunday, July 30, 2017 8:14 PM
To: massbird
Subject: Re: [MASSBIRD] Re: hummingbird moth

 

The two species of Hemaris sp. clearwing moths mentioned both feed on plants of the honeysuckle family as caterpillars. I’ve seen Snowberry Clearwing hornworms on Japanese Honeysuckle but they strongly prefer the native Coral (Lonicera sempervirens). BugGuide (a citizen science website for terrestrial arthropods) also mentions hawthorn, snowberry, and viburnum as larval hosts for the Hummingbird Clearwing, and snowberry, dogbane, and the native bush-honeysuckle Diervilla for the Snowberry. Massachusetts also has a third species, the Slender Clearwing (H. gracilis), which closely resembles the Snowberry, but whose hornworms feed on various species of blueberry and laurel.