Sphinx Moth

Photograph taken by on Sunday, July 07, 2013
Hemaris diffinis (Snowberry Clearwing)

Hemaris diffinis (Snowberry Clearwing)

Cathy and I went to Stadler Nursery after church today. While she shopped for a few things, I browsed with my camera, taking pictures of a few flowers that I liked. At the end of one of the tables was this white buddleia and flying around the flowers sipping their nectar, was a sphinx moth. Of the 124 described species found in America north of Mexico, I believe this is Hemaris diffinis, the snowberry clearwing.

I took quite a few blurry pictures but did get a few that are pretty decent, of which this one is the best. While I was watching, the moth never landed once. Taking a photo of a flying insect is a real challenge and you have to be prepared to end up with a lot more wasted shots than anything else.

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