Like other sphinx moths, adult snowberry clearwings have heads that stick out, big eyes, a big, furry thorax, and a cone-shaped abdomen that goes far past the back wings when the moth flies. This sphinx moth looks like a bumblebee. Its body is fuzzy and golden yellow, and it has black and yellow bands on its abdomen. From the side, the head has a black band that goes through the eye and along the side of the chest. The wings have large central patches that lack scales and are thus clear. The wings have dark scales that are black, and there is a thin dark band around the edges of the wings. The legs and most of the underside of the body are black.
Larvae are usually green with black spots around the spiracles. Behind the head is a yellow “collar. The caterpillar, like other sphinx moths, is a “hornworm” with a pointy “tail” that comes off the end of the body. This species’ horn is black with a yellow base.
Similar species: The hummingbird clearwing (H. thysbe) is another sphinx with clear wings and a fuzzy, beelike body. It is slightly larger than the snowberry clearwing, and it has whitish legs and white under the body. The dark scales on the wings are brown (not black). The boundary between the clear area and outer dark area is ragged (not smooth). Also, it has a dark, diagonal area at the base of the forewing that the snowberry lacks.
The slender clearwing (H. gracilis) only lives in a few places. It is not common in Missouri; it is more common in the north and on the east coast. It always has brown or rust-colored bands on the side of the thorax, beneath where the wings attach. Also, the legs are reddish (not black, not white).
Bumble bees: Clearwing moths can be quickly distinguished by their hummingbird-like flight. These moths usually do not alight and walk on flowers the way bees do. Other Common Names Snowberry Clearwing Sphinx Moth Size.
Found in woods and brushy fields; also frequently seen in city yards and gardens. This is a day-flying species that visits a variety of flowers, sometimes into the evening hours. The adults mimic bumblebees.
Larvae feed on buckbrush (coralberry), snowberry, horse gentian, blue star, honeysuckles, and dogbanes. The adults drink nectar from a variety of flowers, hovering near them like a tiny hummingbird.
Bees are iconic insects but did you know there are moths that can look and even act surprisingly bee-like? These fascinating bee mimics demonstrate some incredible evolutionary adaptations. This article explores moths with bee-like traits how to identify them, and why they imitate their buzzing counterparts.
Bee Hawkmoths
One group of moths well-known for resembling bees are the aptly named bee hawk moths There are several species in this genus that mimic bees’ appearance
The bumblebee hawk moth has yellow and black banding and a furry body that convincingly resembles a bumblebee. It even behaves like a bee, hovering in front of flowers to feed.
The broad-bordered bee hawk moth has dark tan furry segments with a brown stripe that mimics a bee’s body It also has transparent wings with distinct brown borders, unlike a bee’s solid wings
The snowberry clearwing moth is a bee-like hummingbird moth with fuzzy yellow and black stripes. At two inches long, it’s actually double the size of a bee!
Bee-Marked Moths
There are other moths outside the hawk moth family that have evolved bee-like color patterns:
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The wasp moth is orange and black striped. It looks like a bee but has long, slender antennae rather than a bee’s short antennas.
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The yellow-jacket mimic moth is covered in hairy black and yellow bands. But it can be identified by its sideways-resting wings.
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The bee robber moth not only looks like a bee with its yellow fur and stripes, but it can even smell like a bee, allowing it to sneak into hives undetected to steal honey!
Reasons for Bee Mimicry
There are a few key reasons moths might evolve to resemble bees:
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Predator Avoidance – Many insects avoid bees to prevent stings, so mimicking bees discourages predation.
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Batesian Mimicry – Harmless moths mimic stinging bees to protect themselves. Predators avoid them, mistakenly thinking they can sting.
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Nest Infiltration – Some moths like bee robbers exploit bee nests and hives. Mimicking bees allows them to go undetected.
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Pollination – Resembling bees and feeding on nectar may allow some moths to assist plant pollination like bees.
Identifying Bee Moths
Moth traits like feathered antennae, scaled wings, wing position, and body shape can help correctly ID them and distinguish from stinging bees:
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Antennae – Bee moths have feathery or curled antennas, unlike a bee’s simple straight antennas.
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Wings – Moth wings are covered in microscopic scales, while a bee’s wings are transparent. Moth’s wings also rest sideways.
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Body – Many bee moths have uniformly slender bodies rather than a bee’s segmented and rounded fuzzy body.
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Size – Some bee moths are far larger than any bee species.
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Behavior – Moths are mostly nocturnal whereas bees forage during the day. But some diurnal bee-like moths exhibit bee- behaviors.
Stinging Risk?
No moths can deliver painful stings like bees. The key signs that identify an insect as a harmless moth and not a stinging bee include:
- Absence of a stinger
- Scaly wings
- Prominent antennae
- Lack of fuzzy bee-like hair
- Moth resting posture
- No buzzing wing sound
So while bee moths are extremely good mimics, they are incapable of stinging. Their mimicry is entirely visual rather than behavioral. They utilize clever markings to avoid predation, not to attack.
Impressive Tricksters
Moth species have evolved some fascinating physical and behavioral adaptations to mimic stinging bees convincingly. Yet with a bit of knowledge about moth traits, they can be readily distinguished from their buzzing counterparts. So while it may take a double-take, these innocent bee impersonators are intriguing to appreciate, not fear. Their mimicry allows us a glimpse into the power of natural selection and how adaptations develop over time.
Hummingbird Moth facts: also known as hawk moths | Animal Fact Files
FAQ
What kind of moth looks like a bee?
Is it rare to see a hummingbird moth?
Are hummingbird moths harmful?
Where do bee hawk moths live?
Do moths resemble bees or wasps?
Moths are generally associated with unicolor insects. But moths come in various shapes and colors. Some of them are known to resemble various species of bees and wasps. The following species are even confused with either bees or wasps. 1. Polka-Dot Wasp Moth The Polka-Dot Wasp Moth (Syntomeida epilais) shows mimicry attributes resembling a wasp.
What is the best moth to mimic bees and wasps?
Here are several species that can do just that. While there are actually more than 1000 different species that can mimic bees and wasps, The Red Oak Clearwing moth (AKA: Hornet Moth, and Paranthrene simulans) is the best. “Hummingbird Clearwing Moth? looking for some lunch” by RTD Photography is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0
What insects look and sound like bees?
Many insects look and even sound like bees in our gardens and yards! This publication summarizes the insects that mimic bees including flies, wasps and moths, and which ones are pollinators. Some examples of bee mimics described are hover flies, bee flies, yellowjackets, hornets, paper wasps and hummingbird moths.
What is a bumblebee moth called?
Thus, its common name of bumble bee moth. As a side note, there is a similar species (Hemaris thysbe) that is also called a hummingbird moth and looks more like a hummingbird because it is red and green. Now-a-days, I try to call the yellow and black species a bumblebee moth, and reserve hummingbird moth for the red and green species.
What does a bee moth look like?
The adult bee moth has a wingspan of 18-40 millimetres (0.71-1.57 inches). The body and forewings are typically reddish brown, tan, or dark green in color. This species is an example of sexual dimorphism where the male moths are generally more brightly colored and more distinctly patterned compared to the female moths.
Which insects mimic bees?
This publication summarizes the insects that mimic bees including flies, wasps and moths, and which ones are pollinators. Some examples of bee mimics described are hover flies, bee flies, yellowjackets, hornets, paper wasps and hummingbird moths. Veronica Calles-Torrez, Post-doctoral Scientist, NDSU (former)