Sunday, July 1, 2012

A Hummingbird Clearwing Moth

The hummingbird clearwing moth, Hemaris thysbe, has a wingspan of about two inches. Click to enlarge. 
The moth in the picture is hovering in the air while sipping nectar from a wild bergamot blossom. I spied it in Brooklyn Bridge Park this week. Initially, it is easy to mistake this fat furry reddish moth for a tiny hummingbird. Then it comes into focus and you see the antennae, the proboscis, and all the legs. In all the photos I took of this moth, it rested its front pair of legs on the blossom while drinking.
Posted by at
Labels: , ,

8 comments:

  1. Nature in the BurbsJuly 14, 2012 at 6:44 PM

    I never saw this type of hummingbird moth before. Great photo.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Julie FeinsteinJuly 15, 2012 at 6:19 PM

      This is the one I usually see in the New York and New Jersey area. Thanks!

      Delete
  2. AnonymousJune 13, 2013 at 11:35 AM

    I found one in my yard...I live in Edmonton, Alberta in Canada.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Julie FeinsteinJune 16, 2013 at 5:56 PM

    Good for you! Exciting find, isn't it? J

    ReplyDelete
  4. AnonymousJuly 10, 2013 at 1:48 PM

    2nd. one I've seen in 2 years. Glad to learn what it is. Northern NJ

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Julie FeinsteinJuly 16, 2013 at 7:57 AM

      It's a good sighting. One per year is a good rate, too!

      Delete
  5. AnonymousJuly 28, 2013 at 4:58 PM

    I saw one in my backyard today!
    Thank you, God, for showing me more of your beauty in the earth today.
    Smithville, NJ

    ReplyDelete

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)