a crop pollinator nor as a pest. The moth does, however, pollinate several cultivated flowers, and is the primary pollinator for some species of orchid. H. thysbe is not endangered or threatened. Taxonomic history Hemaris thysbe was first described by Johan Christian Fabricius in 1775 as Sesia thysbe in his Systema Entomologiae. The specific name is likely a reference to Thisbe, half of a pair of ill-fated lovers in Ovid's Metamorphoses. The name thus associates the blood-stained scarf of Thisbe to the reddish-brown coloration of the moth. Due to the variable coloration and wing patterning of H. thysbe, it, along with other members of Hermaris, were described as many different species during the 1800s. In 1971, entomologist Ronald Hodges examined the various forms in detail. He dissected a number of specimens representing the range of H. thysbe coloration and geographic scope and found no differences in their reproductive organs. He thus concluded that the many variations represent a single species. Species collapsed into H. thysbe include: Sphinx pelasgus Cramer, 1780 Sesia cimbiciformis Stephens, 1828 Sesia ruficaudis Kirby, 1837 Sesia fuscicaudis Walker, 1856 Haemorrhagia buffaloensis Grote & Robinson, 1867 Haemorrhagia floridensis Grote & Robinson, 1867 Sesia uniformis Grote, 1868 Macroglossa etolus Boisduval, 1875 Macroglossa pyramus Boisduval, 1875 See also Hummingbird hawkmoth References External links Hemaris thysbe at "Sphingidae of the Americas" Fabricius' original description (in Latin) at Archive.org thysbe Orchid pollinators Moths of North America Moths of Central America Moths described in 1775 Taxa named by Johan Christian Fabricius