Snowberry Clearwing Moth Identification Guide
Identify this bumblebee-mimicking day-flying moth by its clear wings and yellow-and-black banded body.
Read the full Snowberry Clearwing Moth encyclopedia entry →
Key Visual Features
The snowberry clearwing moth is a day-flying sphinx moth whose coloring closely mimics a bumblebee, helping it move safely among flowers in daylight.
- Size: Wingspan of about 1.5-2 inches (38-50mm), similar in scale to a large bumblebee.
- Color and pattern: Wings are mostly clear or transparent with dark reddish-brown to blackish borders and veins, becoming fully see-through once fine wing scales rub off shortly after emergence. The body is yellow with black bands across the thorax and abdomen, and the head is black.
- Body shape: Robust, tapering abdomen ending in a fan-shaped tail tuft used for steering and stabilizing in flight.
- Wings: Narrow and rapidly beating, producing an audible hum while hovering at flowers, much like an actual bee.
- Legs and antennae: Legs are dark; antennae are club-shaped and thickened toward the tip, typical of sphinx moths built for controlled hovering flight.
Where and When You'll See It
Look for this species in gardens, meadows, and woodland edges with nectar-rich flowers such as honeysuckle, lilac, and verbena, across much of North America, from suburban yards to open fields. It is strictly diurnal, active from spring through summer, and is most often seen hovering in place at flowers with its long proboscis extended during daylight hours, darting quickly between blooms in a manner that closely mimics a foraging bumblebee.
Similar-Looking Moths
The hummingbird clearwing moth is its closest lookalike, sharing the same clear-winged, hovering behavior and similar size, but it has an olive-green top and burgundy underside rather than the snowberry clearwing's bold yellow-and-black banded, bumblebee-like body and black head. Checking the head color and overall body banding, rather than wing transparency alone, is the quickest way to tell the two species apart in the field.
Quick ID Checklist
- Fast, hovering flight resembling a bumblebee
- Clear wings with a dark reddish-brown to blackish border
- Yellow-and-black banded body with a black head
- Fan-shaped tail tuft at the rear of the abdomen
- Active during daylight, especially at flowers
Frequently asked questions
How can I tell a snowberry clearwing moth from a bumblebee?
Look for clear wings, a fan-shaped tail tuft, and a long proboscis used to feed at flowers — features no bumblebee has.
What is the difference between this species and the hummingbird clearwing moth?
The snowberry clearwing has a black head and yellow-and-black banded body, while the hummingbird clearwing has an olive-green top and burgundy underside.
Is this moth active at night?
No, it is diurnal, typically seen flying and feeding during daylight hours.
What flowers commonly attract this moth?
Nectar-rich flowers such as honeysuckle, lilac, and verbena.