(Photo and story by Anita Fernandez)

If you’ve seen something flying around the gardens that looks like a queen bumble bee in size but flies like a hummingbird, it’s neither! This is a Snowberry Clearwing Moth, a day-flying moth that is a member of the Sphinx, or Hawk, moth family. This little furry moth is often seen around the bee balm, which has long tube-shaped flowers that it seems to prefer. You may also see this insect near another very similar-looking relative: the Hummingbird Clearwing Moth. The Snowberry Clearwing displays coloration (and fuzziness) very close to a bumble bee but has a long proboscis (its mouthpart) that can reach deep into flowers to access nectar. Unlike many moths, the Clearwings have clear areas between the veining on their wings, making them look like glass. They feed from flowers while hovering, which is why they are often mistaken for hummingbirds in flight. To support their full lifecycle, you can plant snowberry, dogbane, or honeysuckle for the caterpillars to eat. If you see a green caterpillar on these plants with a horn-like protrusion on its tail, you are probably looking at a future Sphinx moth.