Field Notes Update

Broad-headed Sharpshooter (Oncometopia orbona) /  by Todd Henson

A broad-headed sharpshooter (Oncometopia orbona) resting on a leaf

Today we take a brief look at a very interesting looking insect, one that’s not uncommon but that many of us may not have seen before. This is a broad-headed sharpshooter (Oncometopia orbona), a type of sharpshooter and in the family of leafhoppers. As you may be able to tell from the names these insects are able to hop or shoot quickly away from a plant. They also typically feed on plants, essentially drinking liquid from them. Unfortunately, this particular species is also known to carry a bacterium that causes disease in grapevines in some regions.

This particular sharpshooter was photographed at the end of July, 2021, at Blandy Experimental Farm, the State Arboretum of Virginia, a fantastic location for lovers of plants and all the things you can find around plants. There were large fields of plants and that’s where I happened to notice the interesting coloration and patterns of this insect.

Cropped in to get you a little closer to the broad-headed sharpshooter

Look closely and you may notice an interesting feature of this specific insect. I believe this is a female broad-headed sharpshooter. How can I tell? The females can sometimes be seen with white milky or waxy patches on the sides of their wings. The patches are called brachysomes and contain proteins they’ll scrape onto their eggs to help protect them from drying out and from some predators. I think the small patches of white on the wings and the rear legs of this sharpshooter might be the remains of this substance, so she may have recently laid some eggs somewhere.

In the past I’ve shared photos of another sharpshooter, a Versute sharpshooter on the leaves of an hibiscus.

Have you seen one of these broad-headed sharpshooters before? And if so, where did you find it?

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Snowberry Clearwing Moth /  by Todd Henson

Snowberry clearwing moth on thistle

In a recent post about the hummingbird clearwing (Hemaris thysbe) I’d mentioned that it wasn’t the only clearwing moth in the area, so today we take a look at another, the snowberry clearwing (Hemaris diffinis). Both of these species are known as hummingbird moths for their resemblance to hummingbirds. If you don’t look closely, or aren’t aware of their existence, it can be easy to confuse one for the other.

Looking at the back of a snowberry clearwing feeding on thistle nectar

The primary differences between the snowberry and the hummingbird clearwing, as mentioned in the previous post, are the black legs on the snowberry (versus pale colored on the hummingbird) and the dark band around the eyes and down the side of the snowberry. Both can have an olive-greenish toned thorax, but as you can see, one of these snowberry has less green in it, instead featuring a more tan or golden thorax. There is some variation in each species appearance.

The benefits of a long tongue become obvious when watching this snowberry clearwing feeding

Some of these photos are not as in focus as I’d like. These little hummingbird moths are quite challenging to photograph as they constantly move about from flower to flower, feeding on nectar. But I’m hopeful the photos help show just how much of the wing can be clear, hence the clearwing in their name.

In this photo the snowberry clearwing has just finished feeding and is moving away from the flower. Notice how its tongue begins to curl inwards.

The other feature I’d like you to notice is their long tongue, used to reach into deeper flowers much as hummingbirds do. As the snowberry clearwing moved away from a flower it had just been feeding from it curled up its tongue. I don’t know if this is typical behavior, though I suspect it is.

The snowberry clearwing has moved further from the flower after feeding and we can now see its tongue more tightly curled.

If you happen to live in the eastern half of the United States then keep your eyes open for snowberry clearwing hummingbird moths. You just might see one. I don’t see them all that often, but each time is a joy. I hope you’ve gotten some enjoyment viewing these wonderful little flying marvels.

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Hummingbird Clearwing Moth /  by Todd Henson

A hummingbird clearwing moth (Hemaris thysbe) hovering by a flower

I still remember the first time I saw a hummingbird moth and learned it was an insect and not a bird. Similar to how a hummingbird has a small body for a bird, a hummingbird moth has a large body for a moth. And so the two end up very similar in size, flying in somewhat similar ways, both making similar sounds, and feeding around similar plants. It’s no wonder then, is it, that we mistake them? And yet, they are so very different.

The hummingbird moth we’re looking at today is called a hummingbird clearwing (Hemaris thysbe). It’s not the only clearwing in this area and looks very similar to the Snowberry clearwing (Hemaris diffinis). But the hummingbird clearwing has more red on its wings and lower body, and its legs are pale colored. The Snowberry clearwing has black legs, and also a dark band around its eyes and across its sides. They both can have a greenish toned thorax and a darker abdomen which almost appear to be covered in fur, contributing to their resemblance to hummingbirds.

A hummingbird clearwing moth (Hemaris thysbe) gathering nectar from flowers

These moths are wonderful flyers and a joy to watch as they flit from flower to flower feeding on the nectar. They have an extraordinarily long tongue that lets them feed from flowers some insects are unable to. But the flowers in these photos, which I believe are beebalm, don’t present much challenge to hummingbird moths or other insects.

Trying to photograph hummingbird moths can be a real challenge as they’re fast movers, and their wings are almost never still. I do wonder what they’d look like if they ever landed to rest, but I’ve only ever seen them in flight. I was fortunate to capture a couple nice views, showing details on their back, sides and wings. Look closely and you can see the clear portions of their wings that explain the clearwing part of their name. You can also see the long tongue extended into the flower.

Have you ever encountered hummingbird moths? Are they common in your area?

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