Broad-Bordered Bee Hawk-Moth vs Silver Y
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Broad-Bordered Bee Hawk-Moth | Silver Y |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Hemaris fuciformis | Autographa gamma |
| Order | Lepidoptera | Lepidoptera |
| Family | Sphingidae | Noctuidae |
| Size | 38-48 mm wingspan | 35-45 mm wingspan |
| Habitat | Underground | Farmland |
| Diet | Nectar Feeders | Nectar Feeders |
| Regions | Europe, Asia, North Africa | Europe, Asia, Africa |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Broad-Bordered Bee Hawk-Moth
A day-flying sphinx moth with transparent wings that mimic a bumblebee. The scales on its wings fall off on its first flight, leaving clear panels that enhance the bee illusion.
Did You Know?
This moth deliberately sheds its wing scales on its maiden flight to become transparent — one of the only moths that intentionally destroys its own wing coloring.
Silver Y
A migratory moth marked with a bright silvery Y or gamma symbol on each forewing. Billions migrate northward across Europe each spring in one of nature's great insect movements.
Did You Know?
Radar studies revealed that up to 250 million Silver Y moths cross into Britain in a single summer.