Pale Grass Blue vs Hummingbird Clearwing Moth

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute	Pale Grass Blue	Hummingbird Clearwing Moth
Scientific Name	Zizeeria maha	Hemaris thysbe
Order	Lepidoptera	Lepidoptera
Family	Lycaenidae	Sphingidae
Size	15-25 mm wingspan	38-50 mm wingspan
Habitat	Meadows	Woodlands
Diet	Nectar Feeders	Nectar Feeders
Regions	East Asia, Japan/Korea	Eastern North America from Canada to the Gulf states
Conservation	Least Concern	Least Concern

Pale Grass Blue

One of the smallest and most common butterflies in Japan, known as 'yamato-shijimi.' Found everywhere from city sidewalks to mountain meadows. Pale blue upperwings with spotted undersides.

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Did You Know?

This butterfly became an unlikely research subject after Fukushima, as scientists documented radiation-induced mutations in populations near the disaster site.

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.