Sesioidea

Definition

A superfamily of Lepidoptera containing three families of moths: the clearwing moths (Sesiidae), castniid moths (Castniidae), and little bear moths (Brachodidae). Members are united by reduced wing scaling that often produces transparent or partly clear wings in adults, and by larvae that are predominantly internal feeders in plant stems, roots, or trunks—though Brachodidae includes some external leaf-feeders. Morphological evidence from head and thoracic structure supports a sister relationship between Sesiidae and Castniidae.

Etymology

From Latin sesia (clearwing moth genus) + -oidea (resembling), denoting affinity with the type genus Sesia.

Example

The grape root borer Vitacea polistiformis, a sesiid in Sesioidea, tunnels through vine roots while its adult mimics a paper wasp in flight.

Related Terms

• Sesiidae
• Castniidae
• Brachodidae
• Cossoidea
• clearwing moth
• internal feeder
• Lepidoptera

Usage Notes

Sesioidea is sometimes subsumed into an expanded Cossoidea sensu lato in recent phylogenetic treatments; specialists should check current classification for the group in use. The superfamily is distinguished from Cossoidea sensu stricto (goat and leopard moths) by adult morphology and larval host associations, though the boundary remains taxonomically fluid.