Hemaris thysbe — Hummingbird Clearwing

(Fabricius, 1775)

Hodges# 7853

Etymology

Hemaris: Hemara, a Greek word meaning “day,” is one possible explanation for this genus name since these moths are primary diurnal fliers. Another interpretation ties this Genus to the story of Pyramus and Thisbe; two ill-fated lovers who tragically kill themselves when they believe the other is dead, thus spilling their hema, the Greek word for “blood.” The blood-red scales present on the wings of Hemaris species is thought to be the connecting reason for the name. The epic tragedy was redone by many including William ‎Shakespeare both in Romeo and Juliet and in A Midsummer Night's Dream, which included another ill-fated female named, Hermia.

Thysbe: The female heroine of 8th Century Roman poet, Ovid, in his narrative Metamorphoses.

Pronunciation

HEM-ar-iss THYS-bee

Documented Occurrences

This map shows the confirmed sightings of the Hummingbird Clearwing in Indiana. All sightings were confirmed through photographic documentation by individuals who contributed to the Great American IN Nature Lepidoptera Project (GAIN LP).

GAIN LP Sightings

Date	County	Observer	Notes	Image1	Image2
2019-07-09	Tippecanoe	Evans, Jill	Adult nectaring on hostas
2019-07-06	Madison	Smith, Dean	Adult nectaring on common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca)
2019-07-05	Jennings	Bailey, Tim	Adult nectaring on wild bergamot (Monarda fistulosa ) at the Selmier State Forest
2019-07-05	Johnson	McNichols, Becky	Adult nectaring on wild bergamot (Monarda fistulosa )
2019-06-26	Lake	Halon, Joelle	Adult
2018-09-21	Delaware	Crouch, Wes	Adult nectaring
2018-09-15	Hamilton	Maddy, Gina	Adult nectaring
2018-09-12	Putnam	Robertson, Kate	Adult nectaring on Zinnia (Zinnia spp.)
2018-09-03	Lake	Jostes, Victoria	Adult nectaring on Wild Bergamont (Monarda fistulosa) - Difficult to ID to species
2018-08-30	Marion	Wang, Pamela	Adult nectaring on Thistle (Cirsium spp.)

Observation Details	Images
Date: 2019-07-09 County: Tippecanoe Observer: Evans, Jill Notes: Adult nectaring on hostas
Date: 2019-07-06 County: Madison Observer: Smith, Dean Notes: Adult nectaring on common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca)
Date: 2019-07-05 County: Jennings Observer: Bailey, Tim Notes: Adult nectaring on wild bergamot (Monarda fistulosa ) at the Selmier State Forest
Date: 2019-07-05 County: Johnson Observer: McNichols, Becky Notes: Adult nectaring on wild bergamot (Monarda fistulosa )
Date: 2019-06-26 County: Lake Observer: Halon, Joelle Notes: Adult
Date: 2018-09-21 County: Delaware Observer: Crouch, Wes Notes: Adult nectaring
Date: 2018-09-15 County: Hamilton Observer: Maddy, Gina Notes: Adult nectaring
Date: 2018-09-12 County: Putnam Observer: Robertson, Kate Notes: Adult nectaring on Zinnia (Zinnia spp.)
Date: 2018-09-03 County: Lake Observer: Jostes, Victoria Notes: Adult nectaring on Wild Bergamont (Monarda fistulosa) - Difficult to ID to species
Date: 2018-08-30 County: Marion Observer: Wang, Pamela Notes: Adult nectaring on Thistle (Cirsium spp.)

Hemaris thysbe Sightings by Month

Conservation Status

• Global status: G5 (secure)

Reasons: “Huge range, occurs in many habitat types, a familiar species in many eastern U.S. and Canadian gardens.”

• National status: N5 (secure)
• Indiana status: NR (not ranked)

Floral Associates

Hummingbird Clearwing caterpillars are fairly specialized feeders, only eating from five known genera of plants. Adult moths feed upon nectar of many native flowers with Bee Balm (Monarda spp.) being particularly favored.




Known Larval Food Sources in Indiana
Family	Taxonomic Name	Common Name
Order: Dipsicales
Adoxaceae	Viburnum spp.	viburnums
Caprifoliaceae	Lonicera spp.	honeysuckles
	Symphoricarpos spp.	snowberries
Order: Rosales
Rosaceae	Crataegus spp.	hawthorns
	Prunus spp.	cherries