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Post by coloradeo on Nov 11, 2018 10:42:09 GMT -8
As I look down the checklist of sphingidae that I have managed to collect to date, I have little to nothing in the way of the clearwing/hummingbird moths. Have you tips on how to catch them, or better yet, lure them? Since they don't come to UV/MV from what I can tell I have not figured these out.
Eric
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Post by Adam Cotton on Nov 11, 2018 11:33:19 GMT -8
If they behave like the SE Asian Macroglossum you can catch them just before dusk on flowering plants such as Lantana, or whatever local nectar plants they feed on. They fly in the short period just before dusk, and some forest species will also fly in drizzle during the day.
Adam.
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mikeh
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Post by mikeh on Nov 11, 2018 12:27:27 GMT -8
I see them fairly often in Colorado, June seems to be the peak time but they do look like a greenish bee in flight so they are easy to overlook.
One time on Ute Pass east of Green Mountain Reservoir there were dozens on the hillside above the road.
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Post by Paul K on Nov 11, 2018 13:21:41 GMT -8
Hemaris flies during the daytime and the best way to catch them is when they are feeding on flowers. I collected this way here in Toronto few H.thysbe and diffinis on milkweed flowers in July.
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Post by SoCalMountainman on Nov 11, 2018 13:45:14 GMT -8
Hemaris flies during the daytime and the best way to catch them is when they are feeding on flowers. I collected this way here in Toronto few H.thysbe and diffinis on milkweed flowers in July. The only specimen I have in my collection is Hemaris diffinis I caught during the day on flowers along a stream in Santa Barbara County in the back country. It actually looked like a large wasp as it flew in. We were camping at this campground and the kids were playing in the stream and I was the ever observant father with one eye on the children and one on the butterfly net always at hand...…  |
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leptraps
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Post by leptraps on Nov 12, 2018 3:29:06 GMT -8
Hemaris (Hummingbird Clear Wing Moths) are rather common here in Kentucky. I see both Hemaris thysbe and Hemaris diffinis every summer. Hemaris gracilis is a rather scarce, or not quite as common as the others. I think it may be overlooked in the field due the similarities with Hemaris thysbe. There are two other species: Hemaris thetis occurs in the west, and Hemaris aethra is a problem that raises it's confusing head from time to time, but in a recent publication has been raised to full species status. I need to get the paper and read it.
I attempt to collect everyone I see, if it is not Hemaris diffinis, I keep it. I can tell Hemaris diffinis on the wing. The others, not so much.
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leptraps
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Post by leptraps on Nov 12, 2018 3:42:52 GMT -8
I must learn to engage my brain before speaking sometimes I looked at the Hemaris specimen without looking at the location.
I expanded the photograph and your specimen is Hemaris thetis. Visit Moth Photographers Group and expand the photograph of Hemaris thetis.
I have never taken Hemaris diffinis west of the Mississippi, and I take every Hemaris find. I think that some of the watchers/photographer identify them on the wing and get it wrong. Then it becomes a record.
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Post by 58chevy on Nov 12, 2018 8:03:57 GMT -8
The Hemaris & Aellopos species I have collected have all been caught early in the morning (before 9am).
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Post by exoticimports on Nov 12, 2018 8:08:38 GMT -8
In the North East (emphasized, since species and geographic behavior differs), Hamaris prefers bright, warm days and flights during peak sunlight hours- i.e., afternoon (as opposed to dawn/ dusk).
The host plants are "bush" meaning Hemaris is most likely to be found in disturbed areas, field, etc.
They prefer honeysuckle, Impatient, and above all, flowering thistles. Thistle is often found near streams, and if you can find a stand of thistle in bright sun there will be Hemaris.
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leptraps
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Post by leptraps on Nov 12, 2018 8:23:32 GMT -8
The Hemaris & Aellopos species I have collected have all been caught early in the morning (before 9am). I find them flying mostly during the afternoon, never much past 4PM (Hemaris in Kentucky). As for Aellopos, in Florida Aellopos tantalus late morning to early evening, especialy on Flowers. Aellopos titan from 11AM to 4PM in Florida and a early evening in the Lower Rio Grand Valley. I have taken both Aellopos clavipes and Aellopos fadus in the afternoon only to the southeast of Brownsville, Texas. When the Eupatorium is in bloom in Texas, Aellopos like to get into the blooms and make them difficult to collect. I have never taken them in a Bait Trap or Light Trap. |
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Post by boghaunter1 on Nov 12, 2018 11:48:12 GMT -8
Here in central NE Sask., Western Canada we have 3 spp.: H. thysbe - can be quite common some yrs... less so others... always seen in bright sunshine at flowers (lilacs in my yd.) from ~10:00 am to around 4:00 pm; H. diffinis occurs in low numbers most yrs. & also flies mostly in full sunshine & is found at flowers... same hrs. as H. thysbe - I have on a couple of rare occasions captured a few specimens in a black light trap; H. gracilis - Our rarest sp.; I have 3 specimens collected yrs. ago on flowers (Labrador Tea) in bright sunshine in boreal forest/parkland transition area N. of my farm; there are only 2 specimens in our prov. museum in Regina. H. gracilis is not as rare though as assumed... when I collected my 3 specimens I came across ~ 20 of them all nectaring before noon at Labrador Tea (Ledum groenlandicum) along a 1/2 mile stretch of an old logging road bordering open Jack Pine (Pinus banksiana) woods. H. gracilis is (IMHO) an extremely wary sp. that knows the exact length of your net handle!... at the slightest sudden movement/shadow cast near it, it will suddenly veer up, up & away back into the woods. H. gracilis also occurs earlier in the season than the other 2 spp.. from around 25th May to around 10th June in my area. H. hemaris can be found throughout June & sometimes in Aug. (2nd gen.?), H. diffinis also occurs in June. H. hemaris & H. gracilis are easily separated on the wing as they hover about flowers provided you can carefully "sneak" up on them. I once came across both H. thysbe & H. diffinis, dewy & stiff with cold, quietly resting on Red Clover blossoms, within about 100ft. of each other, on a small overgrown logging road at 8:30 - 9:00 am. I will post photos I took of each later...
How do other collectors capture Hemaris spp. so as to minimize wing damage? I net them & then carefully (& as quickly as possible) try to corral them in the bottom of my net & then slip a larger, wide mouth killing jar inside the net & finally ctach them... It can be difficult to get good quality specimens due to their powerful & constant wing beating while in the net. Hemaris thysbe is said to have it's wings completely covered with dark scales immediately after emergence from the pupa... after it's 1st maiden flight most of the scales fall off leaving only those outlining the wing veins. I once had a neighbor bring me a smaller, green, mature, unidentified sphinx larvae he had found on a wild Cranberry (Vaccinium sp.)bush. I put it in a jar with about 2" of damp potting soil in the bottom... it disappeared underground & about 3 weeks later a H. thysbe emerged.. I was alerted of it's emergence by the buzzing of it's wings... unfortunately it had beat it's wings up pretty badly, though I still have the specimen...somewhere... would have liked to confirm the wings being completed covered in scales before it's 1st flight. Anyone rear any Hemaris sp.?
John K.
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Post by LEPMAN on Nov 12, 2018 12:30:17 GMT -8
I really like day moths! If you are searching for Hemaris or other similar moths I would suggest you find a place with lots of flowers... preferably lantana. I would start by eyeing some local flower gardens or plant nurseries and you may just get lucky to find some. Near my home there is an open field full of flowers and open grass and in the summer months there are Hemaris everywhere. You just need to find the right spot!
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Post by miguel on Nov 12, 2018 13:03:10 GMT -8
The two species of Hemaris that are present in Spain are easy to catch in May during the day in places with flowers.
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Post by boghaunter1 on Nov 12, 2018 14:32:16 GMT -8
Hi again, Finally found it.... Here is an image of a naturally resting Hemaris thysbe @ 8:23 am on the morning of 10 June 2007 in central NE Sask., Canada; apologies as it is resting on a Wild Rose leaf, not a Red Clover blossom... memories tend to fade about details of specific photos after 11 yrs! Attachments:
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Post by boghaunter1 on Nov 12, 2018 14:36:39 GMT -8
And here is an image of a naturally resting Hemaris diffinis @ 9:31 am on the morning of 10 June 2007 in central NE Sask., Canada; apologies as it is resting on a Dewberry leaf, not a Red Clover blossom... memories tend to fade about details of specific photos after 11 yrs! Attachments:
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