Slender clearwing
Hemaris gracilis (Grote & Robinson, 1865)
Family: Sphingidae
Subfamily: Macroglossinae
Identification: Very similar to H. thysbe; Hummingbird mimic. The thorax is olive to golden-olive in color dorsally, white/pale ventrally; abdomen is burgundy to dark burgundy both dorsally and ventrally, with light olive to dark golden patches dorsally, and typically a thin white band across the top of the first abdominal segment (particularly noticeable in freshly emerged specimens). Wings mostly clear with reddish brown terminal borders and dark scaling along veins. While wing maculation is too variable to be 100% diagnostic, gracilis typically has thick terminal borders and the discal cell is typically shortened and without scaling. However, gracilis can always be distinguished from thysbe and diffinis by two characteristics: 1) the distinct brown or reddish-brown banding on the lateral side of the thorax, under the wing juncture; 2) gracilis always has red or reddish colored dorsal surface of the legs.
Wing Span: 1 9/16 - 1 3/4 inches (4 - 4.5 cm).
Life History: Adults fly during the day. Females lay eggs on the underside of new leaves.
Flight: Probably two broods throughout its range from March-August.
Caterpillar Hosts: Blueberries including low bush blueberry (Vaccinium vacillans), and laurel (Kalmia), all in the heath family (Ericaceae).
Adult Food: Nectar from flowers including pickerelweed (Pontederia cordata), blackberry and raspberry (Rubus species), dandelion (Taraxacum officinale), orange hawkweed (Hieracium aurantiacum), and phlox (Phlox species).
Habitat: Not reported.
Range: Nova Scotia and Maine east to North Dakota; south along the Atlantic Coast to central Florida.
Conservation: Not usually required.
NCGR: G4 - Apparently secure globally, though it might be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.
Management Needs: None reported.
Comments: new identification section from Jason D. Roberts 8/2009
Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 68 verified sightings
Observation date: Jun 10, 2022
Submitted by: terrymortier
Region: Burnett County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Ilona L.
Verified date: Nov 20, 2022
Observation date: Jun 05, 2022
Submitted by: Maggie May
Region: Franklin County, New York, United States
Verified by: Sue Gregoire
Verified date: Jun 08, 2022
Observation date: May 24, 2022
Submitted by: Renee Murphy
Region: Cheshire County, New Hampshire, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: May 25, 2022
Observation date: Apr 30, 2022
Submitted by: Allen B
Region: Fentress County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: Allen B
Verified date: Apr 30, 2022
Observation date: Jun 02, 2021
Submitted by: Lindacnlm
Region: Mason County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: Mark Wheeler
Verified date: Jun 06, 2021
Observation date: Jul 08, 2020
Submitted by: rgardner
Region: Cumberland County, Maine, United States
Verified by: Sue Gregoire
Verified date: Feb 15, 2021
Observation date: Aug 12, 2018
Submitted by: Beavercreekguy
Region: Cheboygan County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: Mark Wheeler
Verified date: Feb 04, 2021
Observation date: Jul 29, 2019
Submitted by: April.l.bank
Region: Wayne County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: Mark Wheeler
Verified date: Feb 02, 2021
Observation date: Aug 08, 2020
Submitted by: isortiz0113
Region: Oakland County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: Mark Wheeler
Verified date: Feb 01, 2021
Observation date: May 31, 2016
Submitted by: Randy Scott
Region: Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Aug 01, 2020
Observation date: Jun 07, 2020
Submitted by: mlanois
Region: Jackson County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Ilona L.
Verified date: Jun 08, 2020
Observation date: Jun 29, 2019
Submitted by: jollygoodyellow
Region: Nova Scotia, Canada
Verified by: Sue Gregoire
Verified date: Jul 16, 2019
Observation date: Aug 04, 2018
Submitted by: Christine Stanke
Region: Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Ilona L.
Verified date: Aug 12, 2018
Observation date: Jun 02, 2018
Submitted by: Hellbinder
Region: Warren County, New York, United States
Verified by: Sue Gregoire
Verified date: Jun 03, 2018
Observation date: Aug 02, 2016
Submitted by: Troyb
Region: Hennepin County, Minnesota, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Oct 08, 2016
Observation date: Jul 17, 2013
Submitted by: jjflossem
Region: Hernando County, Florida, United States
Verified by: geraldswegner
Verified date: Sep 23, 2016
Observation date: Apr 17, 2016
Submitted by: ShieldsM
Region: Onslow County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Apr 17, 2016
Observation date: May 21, 2014
Submitted by: curtis.lehman (Jon M. Yuschock)
Region: Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Feb 24, 2016
Observation date: Jun 04, 2015
Submitted by: mpeirce
Region: Delaware County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jun 05, 2015
Observation date: Jul 31, 2014
Submitted by: breles
Region: Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States
Verified by: Lula Field
Verified date: Nov 19, 2014
Observation date: Jun 06, 2012
Submitted by: Tony DeSantis
Region: Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jun 26, 2012
Observation date: Jul 14, 1992
Submitted by: curtis.lehman (David Wright)
Region: Monroe County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jan 31, 2012
Observation date: Aug 03, 1995
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Essenmacher, Monica)
Region: Huron County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: Ranger Steve Mueller (Steven J. Mueller)
Verified date: May 01, 2011
Observation date: Jun 19, 2009
Submitted by: Esjay
Region: Burnett County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: mikereese
Verified date: Apr 27, 2011
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