Clearwing Sphinxes

Here in Carroll County I see two species of clearwings every summer. Today I hit the jackpot—both species—and managed to photograph both.

This one is a Snowberry Clearwing, Hemaris diffinis. Not only does it appear to be yellow and black like a bumblebee, but it has a black line on the side of the thorax between the wings and the legs. You can see the line clearly in the photo


This one is a Hummingbird Clearwing, Hemaris thysbe. It's larger than the previous moth and generally looks light olive and reddish brown dorsally. Also it lacks the black line on the thorax that identifies H. diffinis.

Both species are day fliers. I never see them on the sheet at night.
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In Memory of Gale Kuebler

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Around the yard in Carroll County, Virginia