We found this cat on Coral Honeysuckle, Lonicera sempervirens, and wondered what it might be. It pupated shortly after and I knew it was a moth because it rolled itself up inside a leaf. So we waited and were very excited to find out.
Here she is.
A new one for me.
Yesterday it eclosed and unfortunately I don't have good pictures because it flew away as we tried to take it out for pictures.
Here is one i took through the container, the wings were clear with black edges in a very pretty pattern, the looked like lace.
What a beauty....it looks like a Hummingbird Clearwing Moth:
http://davesgarden.com/bf/go/264/
Did it look like that one?
This picture i took from the top and it is clearer but you can't see the whole body.
I have checked around and i think it is
Snowberry Clearwing, Hemaris diffinis
http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=3439
What do you guys think?
Fly-Girl, I think you are right, it looks more like the Hummingbird Clearwing Moth in the link you provided, I had tried that one on the other site and it didn't look the same, http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=3437
the color threw me off.
Josephine.
Josephine, I'm not sure, can't tell by your pic, both look similar to yours.
Congrats on raising him, whatever he is!
Josephine ..
From what I can tell, of the appearance of the caterpillar image you posted - the caterpillar seems to 'fit' more in line with being the Snowberry Clearwing (Hemaris diffinis) .. as you'd first considered.
- Magpye
Thank You Magpye, where did you see the caterpillar that looked like mine?
I couldn't find one for comparison.
Josephine.
In my book, Caterpillars of Eastern North America, author David L. Wagner.
But, there is an image you can view here, also > http://bugguide.net/node/view/25228
One has to keep in mind that there are various stages and phases that occur, which can affect the colorations, hues, certain spots and lines developed (or not yet developed), etc. ..
What I'm relatively sure I can see in your caterpillar photo (and what specifically 'stands out') - - is 'the yellow at the base, and black from middle to the apex' description of the caterpillars' horn .. which is very different, from that of the Hummingbird Clearwing cat.
There's also the pale hints of the dark spots (abdominal spiracles) developing on the sides ..
Maybe Kennedy, Claypa or some others will be along soon, and can help with the distinctions .. for/not.
- Magpye
I think you guys are right, your cat didn't have the H. thysbe stripes on its sides or the pink markings on the undersides of the last 2 segments.
fly_girl ..
Oh, please know, that I'd not meant to exclude you .. and your eager resourcefulness and knowledge, in my ol gooberfied (and lame) post, there ^ above.
((huggs))
- Magpye
Magpye, no goobers taken LOL. Claypa and Kennedy have, by far, way more expertise than me.
Wow Josephine way to spot them. It is very pretty!
Thank you for the link Magpye, I think you are right, so for right now unless someone comes up with a great new revelation, Snowberry Clearwing it is.
Josephine.