Clearwing Moth (Hummingbird Moth) by Leon Baker

Friends of the Rouge River share that the Hummingbird clearwing (Hemaris thysbe) aka “hummingbird” moth resembles a hummingbird in looks and flight habits. To complete the mimicry, it makes a humming sound with wingbeats that sound similar to a hummingbird and even looks similar olive green and rust colored back with lighter colored abdomen. Adults have wingspans of 1.5 to 2.2 inches – about half the size of a ruby-throated hummingbird. The caterpillar of Hemaris thysbe is light green with a bluish “horn” on its terminal end and a light-colored stripe that resembles a leaf vein.

FUN FACT: Tiny hummingbird moths strongly resemble real hummingbirds. The hummingbird moth beats its wings 30 – 40 times per second in a figure eight pattern that is similar to the pattern a of a real hummingbird. (However, actual hummingbirds beat their wings 50 – 60 times per second.) The figure eight pattern made by the wings allows both hummingbirds and hummingbird moths to hover in mid-air and to fly briefly backwards.

Check out some more shots of this unique moth & follow Leon on Flickr for his latest!