Hummingbird Central



Hummingbird Moths

Common Name
The term "Hummingbird Moth" is applied to a number of moth varities, such as the Sphinx Moth, Hawk Moth, Snowberry Clearwing, Hummingbird Clearwing Moth or Common Clearwing, White-lined Sphinx Hummingbird Moth, and Titan Sphinx (Aellopos titan).
Scientific Name The term "Hummingbird Moth" is a general term applied to many medium to large moths in the Sphingidae family and Hemaris genus.
Length
2"
Range
Wide range, from Texas and Florida to Maine and Alaska.

Characteristics and Identification

There are several types of Hummingbird Moths, including the Snowberry Clearwing Hummingbird Moth, the Tersa Sphinx Hummingbird Moth, and the White-lined Sphinx Hummingbird Moth, and over 100 more in the United States and Canada.

It feeds through a proboscis, a long, straw-like tube kept curled under the head when not in use. They can be beneficial through pollination of many species of plants. While most moths are active at night, the Hummingbird Moth is also active during the day.

In the caterpillar stage, they are called hornworms. Although they feed on leaves of various plants, most are innocuous, attracting little attention and causing little, if any, injury to garden plants.  Tomato and tobacco hornworms, which feed on tomatoes and a few related plants, are an exception, being true garden pests.


Snowberry Clearwing Hummingbird Moth (Hemaris diffinis)
Snowberry Clearwing Hummingbird Moth

Hummingbird Clearwing Moth (Hemaris thysbe)
Hummingbird Clearwing Moth

White-Lined Sphinx Moth (Hyles lineata)
White-Lined Sphinx Moth

Nessus Sphinx (Amphion floridensis)
Nessus Sphinx (Amphion floridensis)