Moth Photographers Group – Hemaris diffinis

Digital Guide to Moth Identification

Sphingidae

890204.5 – 7855 Hemaris diffinis (Boisduval, 1836)

Snowberry Clearwing

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Larva and Host Plants:	Host familiy: Adoxaceae[Caprifoliaceae] Apocynaceae Caprifoliaceae Diervillaceae[Caprifoliaceae] Ericaceae Onagraceae. Host genera: Amsonia Clarkia Gayophytum Lonicera Symphoricarpos Triosteum Vaccinium Viburnum. Notes: leaves (Wagner 2005); Apocynum-unlikely (Powell & Opler 2009), records for Diervilla belong to Hemaris aethra (Schmidt 2018b). (Shropshire & Douglas 2025)
Similar Species:	890204.3 Hemaris thysbe: has white legs; lacks reddish-brown band on the side of the thorax. 890204.4 Hemaris gracilis: has legs reddish to black and a reddish-brown band on the side of the thorax extending from just behind the eye to the abdomen. © Gary Anweiler, E. H. Strickland Museum . Pinned specimens of related species. (Hint: select View by Region on the related species page.)
Synonymy:	diffinis (Boisduval, 1836) (Macroglossa) - MONA 1983: 7855 ariadne (Barnes & McDunnough, 1910) (Haemorrhagia) axillaris (Grote & Robinson, 1868) (Sesia) fumosa (Strecker, 1874) (Macroglossa) grotei (Butler, 1874) (Sesia) marginalis Grote, 1873 (Hemaris) metathetis Butler, 1876 (Hemaris) tenuis Grote, 1873 (Hemaris)

References (Caution: DNA barcoding at BOLD provides evidence of relatedness, not proof of identification; some BOLD specimens shown may not be sequenced.)

Barcode of Life (BOLD) - Caution: Identifications often erroneous; DNA barcode provides evidence of relatedness, not proof of identification; many specimens not sequenced.
Hall et al., 2021. The Moths of North Carolina - website (identification, habitats and life history)
Hodges, R. W., 1971. Moths of America North of Mexico, Fascicle 21:p. 117; pl. 11.1-13. order or free PDF
Powell, J. A. & P. A. Opler, 2009. Moths of Western North America, Pl. 41.1m, 41.2m; p. 245. Book Review and ordering
Shropshire, K.J. & D.W. Tallamy, 2025. Lepidoptera of North America, north of Mexico: an annotated list containing geographic ranges and host-plant records. ZooKeys, 1261: 101-113; Suppl. 1. (PDF or read online)
Species Page at Bill Oehlke's moth website - Hemaris diffinis
Species Page at Block Island Moths
Species Page at BugGuide.Net
Species Page at E. H. Strickland Museum
Species Page at Mass Moths
Species Page at Pacific Northwest Moths
Species Page at iNaturalist
Species page at Moths of North Dakota.
Tuttle, J. P., 2007. Hawk Moths of North America: p. 163; pl. 5.5-6, 8-9.