This site has been created by
Bill Oehlke at oehlkew@islandtelecom.com
Comments, suggestions and/or additional information are welcomed by Bill.
TAXONOMY:
Family: Sphingidae, Latreille, 1802 |
MIDI MUSICcopyright C. Odenkirk ON.OFF |
I have not seen this species on Prince Edward Island, Canada. These moths are diurnal and are most often seen nectaring during the day at flowers. Note the smooth inner edge of the burgundy forewing outer margin and the reddish upper surface of the legs.
Hemaris gracilis, Peterborough, Ontario, May 30, 2007, courtesy of Tim Dyson.
Hemaris gracilis is distinguished from similar species by a pair of red-brown bands on the sides of the thorax, which varies from green to yellow-green dorsally and sometimes brown with white underneath. They have a red abdomen.The wings are transparent with reddish brown borders. The outer edge of the forewing transparent area is even and the forewing cell has a median row of scales. Also note the red coloration on dorsal surfaceof legs. Hemaris gracilis, Peterborough, Ontario, May 30, 2007, courtesy of Tim Dyson. |
![]() |
Note the red-brown bands on the underside of the thorax, and the red upper surfaces of the legs. In the slightly larger species, Hemaris thysbe (below), the underside of the thorax lacks the red-brown bands, and the upper surfaces of the legs are off-white. Also in H. thysbe, the outer edge of the forewing transparent area is irregular with red-brown projections emanating from the outer margin, particularly at mid wing.
Hemaris thysbe on butterfly bush, June 5, 2003,
Lexington County, South Carolina, courtesy of Scott Wilson.
In Hemaris thysbe above, note the pale area below the wing junctures and legs (right side above) and the irregular edge of the burgundy-brown outer margin (left forewing above) as it projects (mid wing) into the clear area of the forewing.
Hemaris gracilis, Peterborough, Ontario, May 30, 2007, courtesy of Tim Dyson.
Hemaris gracilis, Peterborough, Ontario, May 30, 2007, courtesy of Tim Dyson.
Larvae pupate in thin walled cocoons under leaf litter.
Larval foods are blueberries including low bush blueberry (Vaccinium vacillans), and laurel (Kalmia), all in the heath family (Ericaceae).
Pupation is in a very flimsy cocoon at ground surface. The inch long pupa is brown.
Hemaris gracilis, Quebec, by Alexandre Fournier
Those who first published descriptions and
assigned scientific names to many insects, simply chose names of
biblical or mythological origin without any real descriptive
qualities. Their purpose was simply to set a standard for purposes
of identification by assigned name. On some occasions, names,
mostly of Latin or Greek origin, were chosen to signify a particular
character of the genus or of an individual species.
The genus name "Hemaris" is probably a Latin adjective form for
blood. It may have been chosen by Dalman based on the burgundy-red
scales on the wings.
The species name "gracilis" comes from the Latin word for
slender or graceful.
The pronunciation of scientific names is
troublesome for many. The "suggestion" at the top of the page is
merely a suggestion. It is based on commonly
accepted English pronunciation of Greek names and/or some
fairly well accepted "rules" for latinized scientific names.
The suggested pronunciations, on this page and on other pages,
are primarily put forward to assist those who hear with internal
ears as they read.
There are many collectors from different countries whose
intonations and accents would be different.
Return to Sphingidae Index
Return to Dilophonotini Tribe
Return to Hemaris Genus