Snowberry Clearwing, Bumblebee Moth - Hemaris diffinis
The Snowberry Clearwing also called a Bumblebee Moth, for its distinct resemblence resides in much of the US. The caterpillars dine on Dogbane, Honesuckle and Snowberry. The adults sip nectar from a wide variety of plants including this Cobwebby Thistle in the photo below. A longer list of plants that these spectacular moths pollinate can be found the photo. These Hawk Moths are some of our largest with wingspans up to two inches.
More images of other moths of California can be found by following the link to the USGS information site
For a good read, a great array of images and information about moths Night Visions by Joseph Sheer
Plants to attract Snowberry Clearwing, Bumblebee Moth to your Butterfly Garden
Apocynum cannabinum * Dogbane
Asclepias californica * California Milkweed
Asclepias cordifolia * Purple Milkweed
Asclepias curassavica * Tropical Milkweed, Bloodweed
Asclepias curassavica Silky Gold * Silky Gold Tropical Milkweed
Asclepias eriocarpa * Woolypod Milkweed, Indian Milkweed, Kotolo Milkweed
Asclepias erosa * Desert Milkweed
Asclepias fascicularis * Narrow Leaf Milkweed, Mexican Worled Milkweed
Asclepias linaria * Pineneedle Milkweed
Asclepias speciosa * Showy Milkweed
Asclepias tuberosa * Butterfly Weed
Buddleia Black Knight
Buddleia Harlequin
Buddleia Honeycomb
Buddleia Lochinch
Buddleia marrubifolia
Buddleia Miss Molly
Buddleia Nanho Purple
Buddleia Pink Delight
Buddleia White Profusion
Centaurea cyanus * Bachelor's Button
Centaurea cyanus Black Gem * Black Gem Bachelor's Button
Centaurea gymnocarpa * Pink Dusty Miller
Centaurea montana * Perennial Bachelor's Button, Mountain Bluet
Chaenactis artemisiifolia * White Pincushion
Chrysactinia mexicana * Damianita
Chrysothamnus nauseosus * Rabbit Brush
Cirsium occidentale * Cobwebby Thistle
Lamium Shell Pink
Lantana Luscious Citrus Blend
Lonicera involucrata * Twinberry
Lonicera japonica purpurea * Purple Leaf Japanese Honeysuckle
Lonicera subspicata denudata * Chaparral Honeysuckle
Monardella lanceolata * Mustang Mint
Monardella odoratissima * Mountain Monardella, Desert Mint
Scabiosa Black Knight * Black Knight Pincushion Flower
Scabiosa Butterfly Blue * Butterfly Blue Pincushion Flower
Scabiosa cretica * Balaeric Pincushion Flower
Scabiosa Fama Blue * Fama Blue Pincushion Flower
Scabiosa farinosa * Dwarf Pincushion Flower
Scabiosa Perfecta Blue * Perfecta Blue Pincushion Flower
Scabiosa Pink Mist * Pink Mist Pincushion Flower
Scabiosa ochroleuca * Yellow Pincushion Flower
Scutellaria resinosa Smokey Hills
Scutellaria siphocampyloides * Greyleaf Skullcap
Verbena bonariensis * Purpletop Vervain
Verbena lilacina De La Mina
Verbena lilacina Paseo Rancho
Verbena rigida