Snowberry Clearwing Moth

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Our big patch of zinnias continues to provide great habitat for pollinators and is attracting a sensational variety of flying insects right now. Today's featured flyer: Snowberry Clearwing (Hemaris diffinis).




From the Kaufman Field Guide to Insects of North America: 
"The Snowberry Clearwing is typical of a small group of clear-winged, day-flying sphinx moths that are good mimics of bumblebees -- except that they hover in front of blossoms instead of landing on them."


Here in the Midwest, the other two species in the genus Hemaris are Hummingbird Clearwing and Slender Clearwing.


Here's a video of this remarkable moth at our zinnias. 

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