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
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 25 - 48 of 67 verified sightings
Observation date: Jun 08, 2008
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Steven Johnson)
Region: Sullivan County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman (Curt Lehman)
Verified date: Jun 21, 2010
Observation date: Jul 28, 2008
Submitted by: coreyhusic (Corey Husic)
Region: Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright (David Wright)
Verified date: Oct 24, 2008
Observation date: Jul 04, 1981
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Parker R. Henry)
Region: Carroll County, Arkansas, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (The Lepidopterists' Season Summary)
Verified date: Oct 20, 2008
Observation date: Jul 30, 2007
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Glenn Miller)
Region: Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright (David Wright)
Verified date: Feb 19, 2008
Observation date: Jan 01, 1970
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Richard B. Dominick Moth and Butterfly Collection)
Region: Charleston County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Dr. F. Lance Wallace of The Citadel, Charleston SC)
Verified date: Dec 10, 2007
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (D. Hall)
Region: Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright (David Wright)
Verified date: Jan 08, 2007
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Kris Campbell)
Region: Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright (David Wright)
Verified date: Jan 08, 2007
Observation date: Sep 07, 2001
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Matthew D. Arey)
Region: Essex County, Massachusetts, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Matthew D. Arey)
Verified date: Nov 14, 2006
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Litchfield County, Connecticut, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Hancock County, Maine, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Presque Isle County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Chautauqua County, New York, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Monroe County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Highlands County, Florida, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Arenac County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Merrimack County, New Hampshire, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Lucas County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Marinette County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Montcalm County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Somerset County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Tolland County, Connecticut, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Lincoln County, Maine, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
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