Hummingbird Clearwing Moth vs Red-bordered Metalmark

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Hummingbird Clearwing Moth Red-bordered Metalmark
Scientific Name Hemaris thysbe Caria ino
Order Lepidoptera Lepidoptera
Family Sphingidae Riodinidae
Size 38-50 mm wingspan 28-35 mm wingspan
Habitat Woodlands Heathland
Diet Nectar Feeders Omnivores
Regions Eastern North America from Canada to the Gulf states South Texas through Mexico and Central America
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Hummingbird Clearwing Moth

A day-flying sphinx moth with transparent wings bordered in reddish-brown that closely resembles a hummingbird. It hovers at flowers while feeding with its long proboscis.

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Did You Know?

Its wings are initially covered in scales when it emerges from its cocoon, but the scales fall off during its first flight, leaving them transparent.

Red-bordered Metalmark

A dark metalmark butterfly with bright red-orange borders along the wing edges and metallic blue-green scaling at the wing bases. It perches with wings spread flat.

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Did You Know?

Males are fiercely territorial, perching on sunlit leaf surfaces and darting out at any passing insect.