Snowberry Clearwing (Hemaris diffinis), 7/10/17, home

Two small Sphinx Moths frequent our butterfly plants each year.  Here are our two species, Snowberry and Hummingbird Clearwings, or Hermaris diffinis (Snowberry) and Hemaris thysbe (Hummingbird).

Snowberry Clearwing, (Hemaris diffinis), home garden Buddleia

Snowberry Clearwing, (Hemaris diffinis), home garden Buddleia

Snowberry Clearwing, (Hemaris diffinis), home garden Buddleia

diffinis can always be distinguished from gracilis and thysbe by two diagnostic characteristics: 1) the black band that crosses the eye and travels down the lateral side of the thorax; 2) diffinisalways has black legs.

Hummingbird Clearwing, Milford home, on Buddleia, 8/28/17

Hummingbird Clearwing, Milford home, on Buddleia, 8/28/17