Friends of Murphys Point Park

Species of The Week: Snowberry Clearwing

Screen Shot 2020-07-24 at 11.37.39 AM

July 18–26 marks Moth Week — so, we decided to feature what we’re pretty confident is the Snowberry Clearwing as our Species of the Week. Part of a group known as Small Sphinx Moths, Snowberry Clearwings are often mistaken for their close cousin, the Hummingbird Clearwing. Interestingly, they are also confused with insects outside of their Order, Lepidoptera — which includes moths, skimmers, and butterflies. As a matter of fact, Snowberry Clearwings are often confused with bees, having evolved in appearance as a deterrent against predators who understand the risk of such stinging snacks. Different from bees, Snowberry Clearwings hover while feeding with their proboscis (tubular mouthpart), much like actual Hummingbirds, rather than perch. That said, their mouthparts are similar to bees’ — they are used for extracting nectar from a variety of flowering plants, including Dogbane, Honeysuckle, and, of course, Snowberry. As crepuscular (appearing at twilight) insects, Snowberry Clearwings are often found feeding on these flowers at dusk.

Species of the Week: The Dot-tailed Whiteface

Screen Shot 2020-07-17 at 4.15.51 PM This week, our featured species is the Dot-tailed Whiteface! Pictured here, a male prominently shows off his eponymous white face and yellow dot, near the end of his abdomen. Like all dragonflies, Dot-tailed Whitefaces belong to the Order known as Odonata (Odonates in English) which includes Damselflies and means the “toothed ones” in Latin. Abundant throughout July and August, Dot-tailed Whitefaces are commonly found at Murphys Point, especially while conducting odonate surveys around bogs, marshes, ponds, and lakes with volunteer, Bev Edwards. As a member of the Skimmer (Libellulidae) family, they are often found perched on aquatic vegetation. Interestingly, after a pair of Dot-tailed Whitefaces mate, the male hovers above the female to protect her, ensuring that no other males have the opportunity to mate with her before she has laid his eggs. Come to the park some time to check out what other insects may be flying around!