A Bumble Bee? A Bird? No, a Moth!
Beau July 11th, 2007
The other day I was working near the garden, and heard a soft rustling sound as a “Bumble Bee” flew around some flowers. But I looked up, because the “Bumble Bee” wasn’t buzzing… in fact, it was a moth! This is a small moth that resembles a hummingbird in its flight, and is called the Snowberry Clearwing Moth- also sometimes called the Bumble Bee Moth for it’s coloration and resemblance to the real thing. This coloration may serve as a mimic for protection from predators. It was a fast little moth, but I had the camera and snapped off a bunch of pictures. I have seen different Hummingbird Moths in the past, but not this particular type, even though it is common in Missouri. They are in the Sphinx moth family. I’m not sure where the Snowberry part of its name comes from, but you can see the clear wings below.
Here the Snowberry Clearwing is hovering in flight above some Milkweed flowers. You can see the long proboscis curled up before he darts in to sip from another flower.
Here is a top view… It was so fast that only a few pictures turned out, but it was fun to watch the little guy!
I’ve seen a few of those amidst the wildflowers in my Missouri woods too.
Hi Pablo- Thanks for your comment… My goodness, you do have some woods don’t you!? And your site is wonderful… I can hardly believe how much rain you’ve had. We have been so dry the past month. I’ll put a link on the site to your place. Thanks for visiting!
we have just started seeing these here in Nova Scotia Canada
Hi Shelly! I didn’t know they were all over the continent… and I would love to visit Nova Scotia!