Snowberry Clearwing vs Twin-spot Centurion

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Snowberry Clearwing Twin-spot Centurion
Scientific Name Hemaris diffinis Sargus bipunctatus
Order Lepidoptera Diptera
Family Sphingidae Stratiomyidae
Size 32-50 mm wingspan 8-13 mm
Habitat Underground Underground
Diet Nectar Feeders Nectar Feeders
Regions North America Europe
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Snowberry Clearwing

A bumblebee mimic with largely transparent wings bordered in dark brown, a fuzzy olive thorax, and black and yellow banding on the abdomen. It feeds while hovering at flowers.

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Did You Know?

This moth is born with scales on its wings but they fall off during the first flight, leaving the characteristic clear windows.

Twin-spot Centurion

A metallic bronze-green soldier fly with two characteristic pale spots on the frons. It is one of the most common stratiomyids in Europe, found basking on ivy flowers in autumn.

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Did You Know?

It is one of the last flies to be active in autumn, still visiting ivy flowers well into November.