(Hemaris diffinis) To bee or not to bee...

Also known as the Snowberry Clearwing or Bumblebee Moth. A member of the Sphingidae family of moths; also known as sphinx moths or hawk moths. "Sphingids" are powerful fliers that are often observed hovering at flowers to nectar. Many of them are diurnal, and are frequently mistaken for hummingbirds and bumble bees.

Anyhow, yesterday I was half walking/half running in large ungraceful circles around a local arboretum in McLennan Co., TX trying to keep up with a Zebra Heliconian (Heliconius charithonia) a beautiful tropical longwing butterfly, rare but apparently not a first for the Waco area. I never got a picture. But its only the second time I've seen this unmistakable stunner, the first being at Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge in Alamo, TX...right on the border in the lower Rio Grande Valley.

But of less interest to me at the time, there were several sphinx moths that I wasn't too familiar with hovering around the blooming shrubs spread all over the property. I took a number of pictures, all came out quite fuzzy. These guys seemed to be always on the move.

In discussion with a couple of fellows far more educated on this family than I, I sent a couple of pics that proved, to them, diagnostic documentation of "the Texas phenotype" of H. Diffinis.

From a gentleman who has spent "a fair amount of work with Sphingids." :

"Matt,

'I have
> found ova and larvae of this Hemaris on urban plantings of Lonicera
> sempervirens (Coral Honeysuckle) in the San Antonio area. Evidence is that
> this species will also use the introduced Japanese Honeysuckle and other
> Lonicera species as well. The Texas phentotype seems to be somewhat larger
> than nominate H. diffinis from other localities. I have collected larvae
in
> Washington, Missouri, and Arizona, and none approach the size of larvae
> from the San Antonio area.'" - M. Van Buskirk. Helotes, TX

Not being a fan of introduced exotic species on our native landscapes, I do know this area has plenty of the familiar Japanese Honeysuckle. But a by-product of adaptation by an insect, already a mimic, led to this learning experience for me. It may even be a county record, to boot.

http://www.silkmoths.bizland.com/hdiffinis.htm

The preceding link has some incredible pictures of various regional phenotypes of this lep and its larvae, as well as an excellent life history account.