Feeding Hawkmoth Genus Haemorrhagia

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Walter Piorkowski
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Feeding Hawkmoth Genus Haemorrhagia

Post by Walter Piorkowski »

Image

Olympus C2000Z

The most colorfull Hawkmoth to visit us each year. I know it is the Genus Haemorrhagia but don't know the species name. Any help from you experts out there? It is one of the Clearwings as can be seen from the left wing.

Shown feeding on Longaniaceae, Buddleia davidii. Butterfly Bush. 'white bouquet'.

Walt

rjlittlefield
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Post by rjlittlefield »

Walt,

I'm not an expert, but I've got a pretty good reference book at hand (the one by Hodges that I ref'd in your other post). That book recognizes four species: thysbe, gracilis, diffinis, and senta. From the book's description, trying to get this picture down to exact species may not be real easy. Quoting perhaps the most relevant snippet...
Our members of this genus are highly variable, in part. But at the same time given populations tend to be quite constant in maculation and size. This has led to naming of numerous forms, varieties and species in the past. It appears as though the species vary in the following ways: 1, number of broods -- in a given area, particularly in the south where the species are multivoltine, spring and summer broods tend to be quite different in appearance; 2, geographically -- specimens of a given species tend to be darker and larger in southern regions as contrasted with smaller, often hairy or fuzzy specimens of the same species in the north or at higher elevations in the mountain systems of the West. Our four species may be separated by the following key: ...

Unfortunately, almost every character listed in the key has to do with markings on the underside of the thorax and abdomen, which we can't see in this photo.

Having said that, let me proceed anyway.

I think we can rule out diffinis because the border of the wing looks way too broad. Likewise for senta, which in any case "is questionably distinct from diffinis". That leaves thysbe and gracilis. The book's key distinguishes between them based on the color of the ventral surface (underside) of the thorax -- gracilis is yellow but "banded from anterior to posterior margin with a pair of red or black lines", while thysbe is yellow, not banded. Unfortunately we can't see the underside of the thorax in this picture. However, this web page notes that the bands on the thorax are mirrored in the color of the front legs, which are red in gracilis and white in thysbe. Yours are white. In addition, thysbe is common, and gracilis is not. All told, I'd say you've got a Hemaris thysbe, the "Common Clearwing".

Thysbe also has a much wider range, particularly in the west. Where did you shoot this picture?

By the way, my refs have the preferred name as Hemaris, with Haemorrhagia as an obsolete synonym. Same thing for Manduca versus Protoparce. What ref are you getting the names from?

--Rik

MacroLuv
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Post by MacroLuv »

Hmmm... Walt :-k Considering your location (Illinois?) possibly Hemaris thysbe. If you location is Turkey I could think about Hemaris dentata. :lol:
The meaning of beauty is in sharing with others.

P.S.
Noticing of my "a" and "the" and other grammar
errors are welcome. :D

beetleman
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Post by beetleman »

Great photo of a beautiful moth Walt. I have seen them before but have not gotten a good picture of them...They like to move very fast and often :wink:
Rik...great investigation work there on the ID :smt023
Last edited by beetleman on Wed Nov 01, 2006 9:40 am, edited 1 time in total.
Take Nothing but Pictures--Leave Nothing but Footprints.
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DaveW
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Post by DaveW »

Had a look Walter but I can't find it here:-

http://www.museum.state.il.us/ismdepts/ ... picID=moth

This link has further links if you scroll down to the bottom to pictures of all 4 American species:-

http://www.silkmoths.bizland.com/hemaris.htm

Your moths wings seem to be very colourful though and it possibly could be gracilis? Though my US geography is not good enough to know if you fall within it's distribution range? See:-

http://www.silkmoths.bizland.com/hgracilis.htm

DaveW

Walter Piorkowski
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Post by Walter Piorkowski »

Thank you very much Rik, Nikola, and Dave. Looks like I will have to go with Hemaris thysbe. I will also has to update my referance source. I am ashamed to say that it is the 1914 edition of the 1898 'The New Nature Library'. Too much has changed in the intervening 100 years in taxonomy I guess, even though the color plates in the book still reflect the subjects very well. Subject was photographed in northern Illinois.

Thanks again
Walt

MacroLuv
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Post by MacroLuv »

You are welcome Walter. :D No shame about books. Here we say - The older - The better. :wink:
The meaning of beauty is in sharing with others.

P.S.
Noticing of my "a" and "the" and other grammar
errors are welcome. :D

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