Insect · GBIF taxon 1861797
Broad-bordered Bee Hawkmoth
Hemaris fuciformisAlso known as Broad-bordered Bee Hawk-moth, Bee Hawk-moth
Broad-bordered bee hawkmoths are striking day-flying moths that closely mimic bumblebees with their golden-brown furred bodies and transparent wings. When freshly emerged, delicate scales cover their wings, but these rapidly drop off during their first flight to reveal clear panels edged with thick reddish-brown borders. Hovering gracefully over blossoms like honeysuckle and viper's-bugloss, they extend a long proboscis to sip nectar without ever settling.
DiurnalPollinatorMimic
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Flower nectar
- Honeysuckle foliage
- Bedstraw foliage
Predators
- Insectivorous birds
- Orb-weaver spiders
- Dragonflies
ThreatsOvergrowth of woodland glades, removal of wild honeysuckle, and pesticide use
HabitatsWoodland edges, sunny clearings, scrub, heathland, and gardens
Life span1 year
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- FamilySphingidae
- SpeciesHemaris fuciformis
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Spotting: Scan sunny woodland rides and gardens rich in honeysuckle from May to July.
- Observation: Watch quietly near floral patches where they hover without landing to feed.
- Gardening: Grow native honeysuckle species to provide vital breeding habitat for larvae.
Model Species Marco Almbauer / CC0 · cc0
Host Plant (c) Daniel Cahen, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Daniel Cahen · cc-by
Image unavailableClose Relative 
Family Member (c) Smudge 9000, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
Help improve the field guideSomething wrong?
Checking your Fauna account…Report a name, category, or profile issue for review.