Latin Name:  Hemaris thysbe (Fabricius, 1775)
                        (R. Bercha, det.)

Wingspan:  45 to 62 mm

Range:  Boreal forest, northern aspen woodlands,
               foothills and lower elevations in the mountains 

Habitat:  Open woodlands and their associated
                edges, clearings and meadows

Time of year seen: Late May to July (Additional Sightings)

Caterpillar's Diet:  Honeysuckle, hawthorns,  snowberry and cherry

Other: The Hummingbird Clearwing is found throughout Alberta.  Unlike most of the other members of this family of moths it is active during the daytime.  Similar to a hummingbird, it has the ability to hover in front of flowers while it feeds. The preferred flowers include: purple vetch, dandelion, lilac and honeysuckle.   The distinguishing characteristic that separates the Hummingbird Clearwing  from the other Hemaris species is the presence of a row of darker scales bisecting the forewing discal cell.