# Hummingbird clearwing (Hemaris thysbe) > A day-flying sphinx moth that resembles a small hummingbird while hovering at flowers to sip nectar. Source: https://insectscanner.com/species/hummingbird-clearwing/ (updated 2026-10-10) ## Is it dangerous? **Non-toxic.** Hummingbird clearwings do not bite or sting. They are harmless to people; handle gently if needed (adult bodies are fragile and can lose wing scales). **Pets:** Not toxic or dangerous to pets. Cats or dogs might be interested but the moth is not a threat; avoid letting pets eat insects as it can irritate the mouth or digestive tract. ## Quick facts - Scientific name: Hemaris thysbe - Also called: Hummingbird moth - Order: Lepidoptera (Butterflies and moths) - Family: Sphingidae (Sphinx moths) - Size: Wingspan 40-50 mm - Colours: Olive green, Reddish-brown, Yellow, Clear/transparent - Habitat: Gardens, meadows, woodland edges, hedgerows and suburban areas where host shrubs and nectar flowers are present - Range: Widespread across much of North America, from Alaska and southern Canada through the eastern and central United States; scarcer in the far southwest; range overlaps with other Hemaris species - Active: Spring to early autumn (two or more broods in warm areas); primarily diurnal (active by day), especially during sunny warm weather - Lifespan: Adults live about 2-3 weeks in the wild (typical for nectar-feeding moths); total lifespan including immature stages is several months depending on overwintering stage - Effect on plants: Pollinator - Pest: no ## Overview Hemaris thysbe is a medium-sized day-flying sphinx moth found across much of North America. Adults fly by day and hover at flowers like hummingbirds, using a long proboscis to feed on nectar. Larvae are green caterpillars that feed on the leaves of shrubs such as honeysuckle, viburnum and snowberry. This species is common in gardens, meadows and woodland edges where its host plants and nectar sources occur. These moths are harmless to people and pets. They are often mistaken for hummingbirds because of their flight and feeding behaviour but are true moths that undergo a complete metamorphosis (egg, larva, pupa, adult). ## How to identify it Adults have a stout, furry body and clear (partially transparent) wings bordered by reddish-brown scales; much of each wing lacks scales, leaving windows of clear membrane. The thorax is olive-green to golden-olive, and the abdomen is olive above with a dark burgundy band across it. Legs are pale (yellowish). The head has large compound eyes and a long coiled proboscis that extends while feeding. Caterpillars are yellow-green to green with a pale line along each side, reddish-brown spiracles and a horn at the rear (typical of sphinx moth larvae); a brown form also occurs. Pupae are formed in a loose cocoon in leaf litter and are brown. - Look for a moth that hovers at flowers like a hummingbird and extends a long proboscis while feeding - Check for partly transparent wing 'windows' where scales are missing, with colored margins on the wings - Note the olive-green thorax, burgundy band on the abdomen and pale legs - Caterpillars are green with a pale line along each side and a horn near the rear ## Lookalikes - **Snowberry clearwing** (Hemaris diffinis): Very similar and often confused; H. diffinis has black legs, a black band across the abdomen and a more yellow-and-black 'bumblebee' look, while H. thysbe has pale legs and an olive-green thorax with a burgundy abdominal band. - **Slender clearwing** (Hemaris gracilis): H. gracilis is slimmer, with reddish stripes along the sides of the thorax and narrower wing borders; it is mainly found in eastern bogs and sandy barrens. ## Life cycle - **Egg:** Small, smooth eggs laid singly on the undersides of host plant leaves. Incubation is typically days to a couple of weeks depending on temperature. - **Larva (caterpillar):** Green caterpillars that feed on host plant leaves. They grow through several instars, displaying a pale line along each side and a horn at the rear. - **Pupa:** A reddish-brown pupa usually formed in soil or leaf litter; pupal stage can overwinter in colder regions. - **Adult (moth):** Day-flying, nectar-feeding adult with clear windows in the wings and a long proboscis adapted for hovering and sipping nectar from tubular flowers. ## Diet and predators - Young eat: Leaves of host shrubs such as honeysuckle (Lonicera), viburnum (Viburnum), snowberry (Symphoricarpos) and similar plants - Adults eat: Nectar from a wide range of tubular flowers; they hover to feed, using a long proboscis - Predators of the young: Parasitic wasps and flies, birds, predatory insects such as mantids and bugs - Predators of adults: Birds, spiders, bats (at dusk), and predatory insects; adults may also be preyed on when resting ## Effect on plants and gardens Adults are important pollinators of tubular flowers (bee balm, phlox, petunia, honeysuckle and others). Larvae feed on leaves of shrubs such as honeysuckle (Lonicera), viburnum (Viburnum), snowberry (Symphoricarpos), and sometimes cherry or wild plum; feeding rarely causes significant damage. ## Where and when to find it Adults visit flowering plants in gardens, meadows and edges; caterpillars are found on host shrubs (undersides of leaves). Pupae are in soil or leaf litter near host plants. - Best time: Late spring through summer and into early autumn; active during sunny days, especially mid-morning to late afternoon. - Tips: Photograph while the moth hovers at flowers using a fast shutter speed. Look for them on tubular, fragrant flowers and check host shrubs for caterpillars if surveying larvae. ## Fun facts - Hummingbird clearwings are often mistaken for small hummingbirds because they hover and have a rapid wingbeat. - Newly emerged adults have scales over the whole wing; the loosely attached scales fall off on the first flights, leaving the clear windows. - They are important daytime pollinators of tubular flowers that other insects cannot easily exploit while hovering. ## Frequently asked questions ### Are hummingbird clearwings dangerous? No. They do not sting or bite and are harmless to people and pets. ### Are hummingbird clearwings moths or hummingbirds? They are moths (family Sphingidae). They resemble hummingbirds only in flight and feeding behavior. ### Why is a hummingbird clearwing in my house? They may fly inside if attracted to indoor flowers or lights, especially at dusk. They are day-active and sometimes enter through open doors or windows. ### Do hummingbird clearwing caterpillars harm garden plants? Caterpillars feed on the leaves of certain shrubs but rarely cause serious damage in most gardens. ### How can I encourage hummingbird clearwings in my garden? Plant tubular, nectar-rich flowers (bee balm, phlox, honeysuckle, petunia) and include host shrubs like honeysuckle, viburnum or snowberry for caterpillars. ### How do I get rid of hummingbird clearwings humanely? If indoors, gently guide the moth outside using a soft cloth or cup. They are beneficial pollinators; avoid using broad-spectrum insecticides. --- More about this species: [iNaturalist](https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/82379), [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hemaris_thysbe). Identify insects and spiders from a photo with the Insect Scanner iPhone app: https://apps.apple.com/app/id1543946563?pt=126685406&ct=web-markdown&mt=8 Identification from photos is never certain: don't handle insects you can't identify, and get medical advice for bites, stings or allergic reactions.