Sesiidae
Guides
Paranthrenini
Paranthrenini is a tribe of clearwing moths (family Sesiidae) established by Niculescu in 1964. The tribe belongs to the Adixoa genera group, which includes African genera such as Fortikona, Rubukona, and Thyranthrene. Members of this tribe are characterized by wasp-mimicking morphology and diurnal activity patterns typical of sesiid moths.
Pennisetia
raspberry clearwing moths
Pennisetia is a genus of clearwing moths in the family Sesiidae, commonly known as raspberry clearwing moths. The genus contains approximately 14 described species distributed across the Palearctic region and North America. Species in this genus are characterized by their wasp-mimicking appearance, with transparent wings and narrow dark borders. Pennisetia hylaeiformis, the type species, has been extensively studied for its pheromone biology and serves as a model for understanding sesiid chemical ecology.
Pennisetia marginatum
Raspberry Crown Borer
Pennisetia marginatum, commonly known as the Raspberry Crown Borer, is a clearwing moth in the family Sesiidae. The species is known for its wasp-mimicking appearance and its association with Rubus host plants. It is distributed across the Nearctic region, with records from the Canadian prairies and presumably throughout much of its North American range.
Penstemonia
Penstemonia is a genus of clearwing moths in the family Sesiidae, established by Engelhardt in 1946. The genus contains five described species distributed in North America. Species within this genus are part of the tribe Synanthedonini, which includes many wasp-mimicking moths. Adults are diurnal and are known to visit flowers.
Penstemonia dammersi
Penstemonia dammersi is a clearwing moth in the family Sesiidae, described by Engelhardt in 1946. The genus Penstemonia is small and specialized, with species associated with Penstemon host plants. This moth belongs to the tribe Synanthedonini, which includes many wasp-mimicking species with reduced wing scaling. Records indicate limited observation data, with only seven documented observations on iNaturalist.
Penstemonia hennei
Penstemonia hennei is a species of clearwing moth in the family Sesiidae, described by Engelhardt in 1946. Members of the genus Penstemonia are known as wasp-mimicking moths with reduced wing scaling that creates a transparent appearance. The species is known from limited records in the Nearctic and Neotropical regions.
Podosesia
Ash and Lilac Borer Moths
Podosesia is a genus of clearwing moths in the family Sesiidae, established by Möschler in 1879 after the original name Grotea was found to be preoccupied. The genus contains at least three described species in North America, including the economically significant lilac borer (P. syringae) and the banded ash clearwing (P. aureocincta). Larvae are wood-borers in woody plants of the olive family (Oleaceae), particularly ash, lilac, and privet. Adults are diurnal and exhibit wasp mimicry in both appearance and behavior.
Podosesia aureocincta
Banded Ash Borer Moth, Banded Ash Clearwing
Podosesia aureocincta is a clearwing moth in the family Sesiidae that infests ash trees (Fraxinus spp.). Unlike the invasive emerald ash borer, this native pest causes gradual damage over years or decades rather than rapid tree mortality. Adults emerge in late summer, exhibiting Batesian mimicry of paper wasps with their yellow-banded abdomens and clear wings. Larvae tunnel beneath bark, producing sawdust-like frass and round exit holes distinct from the D-shaped holes of emerald ash borer. The species is distributed across the Nearctic region.
Sannina uroceriformis
Persimmon Borer Moth, persimmon borer
Sannina uroceriformis, commonly known as the persimmon borer moth, is a clearwing moth in the family Sesiidae. It is native to the eastern and central United States. The species exhibits sexual dimorphism in size, with females slightly larger than males. The common name references its larval association with persimmon trees.
Sesia
clearwing moths
Sesia is a genus of clearwing moths in the family Sesiidae, characterized by their wasp-like appearance due to transparent wings and narrow bodies. These diurnal moths are active during daylight hours and are often mistaken for hymenopterans. The genus includes species that develop as wood-boring larvae in various tree hosts.
Sesiini
clearwing moths
Sesiini is a tribe of clearwing moths (family Sesiidae) characterized by reduced wing scaling that creates a transparent, wasp-like appearance. The tribe contains multiple genera distributed across tropical and temperate regions. Members of this tribe are diurnal and often mimic hymenopterans in appearance and flight behavior.
Sophona snellingi
Sophona snellingi is a clearwing moth in the family Sesiidae, described by Eichlin in 1986. It belongs to the subfamily Tinthiinae, a group of relatively small and poorly known sesiid moths. The species is named in honor of entomologist Roy R. Snelling. Like other members of its family, it is presumed to exhibit wasp-mimicry through transparent wings and a slender body form.
Synanthedon acerrubri
Maple Clearwing Moth, Red Maple Borer
Synanthedon acerrubri is a clearwing moth in the family Sesiidae, commonly known as the maple clearwing moth or red maple borer. The species is a wood-boring pest of maple trees in eastern North America. Adults are diurnal and wasp-mimicking in appearance, with transparent wings and banded abdomens. Larvae tunnel into the trunks and branches of host trees, causing structural damage.
Synanthedon albicornis
Western Willow Clearwing Moth
Synanthedon albicornis is a clearwing moth in the family Sesiidae, commonly known as the Western Willow Clearwing Moth. The species exhibits sexual dimorphism, with males possessing highly bipectinate (feathery) antennae and distinctive white thoracic tufts composed of hair-like scales. Like other sesiids, it is a wasp mimic with reduced wing scaling that creates a transparent appearance. The species is diurnal and generally not attracted to light traps.
Synanthedon alleri
Synanthedon alleri is a clearwing moth in the family Sesiidae, native to the Nearctic region. The species was originally described as Thamnosphecia alleri in 1946 and later transferred to Synanthedon. As with other sesiids, it exhibits wasp-mimicking morphology and reduced wing scaling that creates a transparent appearance. The species appears to be rarely encountered, with limited observational records available.
Synanthedon arizonensis
Arizona Clearwing Moth
Synanthedon arizonensis is a clearwing moth in the family Sesiidae, known for its wasp-like appearance and diurnal activity. Like other members of its genus, it likely bores into woody plants as larvae. The species is native to the southwestern United States and adjacent Mexico. It belongs to a group of moths that are generally not attracted to light traps, making them difficult to survey using standard moth-collecting methods.
Synanthedon castaneae
Chestnut Clearwing Moth
A clearwing moth in the family Sesiidae, Synanthedon castaneae is a specialist associated with Castanea (chestnut) trees. The species is part of a guild of insects that historically relied on American chestnut (Castanea dentata) as a host, and like other members of this community, has been affected by the decline of this keystone tree species due to chestnut blight. The common name reflects this host association.
Synanthedon culiciformis
large red-belted clearwing, Large Red-belted Clearwing Moth
Synanthedon culiciformis is a clearwing moth in the family Sesiidae, distributed across the Palearctic and Nearctic realms. Adults are active from April to August and exhibit wasp-mimicking coloration. The species develops as a wood-boring larva in deciduous trees, particularly birch and alder.
Synanthedon decipiens
oakgall clearwing, oak gall borer, Oak Gall Borer Moth
Synanthedon decipiens is a clearwing moth in the family Sesiidae, found in eastern North America. The species develops as a borer within woody oak galls formed by cynipid wasps. Adults are active primarily in June, with a possible second generation in September in some regions. The moth exhibits effective wasp mimicry, with a slender body, narrow transparent wings, and yellow abdominal banding.
Synanthedon fulvipes
Synanthedon fulvipes is a clearwing moth in the family Sesiidae, first described by Harris in 1839. Like other members of its genus, it exhibits wasp-mimicking morphology with reduced wing scaling that creates a transparent appearance. The species is part of a group of wood-boring moths whose larvae develop within plant tissues. Specific ecological details for this species remain poorly documented in available literature.
Synanthedon helenis
Helenis clearwing
Synanthedon helenis is a clearwing moth in the family Sesiidae, distributed across the Canadian Prairie Provinces. The species exhibits typical sesiid characteristics including reduced wing scaling that creates a transparent, wasp-like appearance. Like many clearwing moths, it is primarily diurnal and not attracted to lights. The specific host plants and larval biology remain poorly documented.
Synanthedon pini
pitch mass borer, Pitch Mass Borer Moth
Synanthedon pini, commonly known as the pitch mass borer, is a clearwing moth in the family Sesiidae. It is found in eastern North America, where it develops in the wood of pine and spruce trees. The larvae create pitch-filled tunnels in the inner bark and sapwood, causing defects in lumber but not killing host trees. Adults are active in mid-summer and have distinctive mostly clear wings.
Synanthedon pyri
Apple Bark Borer
Synanthedon pyri, commonly known as the Apple Bark Borer, is a clearwing moth in the family Sesiidae. Adults are diurnal and exhibit wasp mimicry, with transparent wings and wasp-like coloration. Larvae are wood-borers that infest the bark and cambium of fruit trees, particularly apple (Malus spp.), causing damage to commercial orchards. The species is native to North America and has been documented as a pest of economic concern in apple-growing regions.
Synanthedon richardsi
A North American clearwing moth in the family Sesiidae, distinguished by wasp-mimicking appearance and diurnal activity. Adults have reduced wing scaling that creates transparent areas, and males possess strongly bipectinate antennae. The species is rarely encountered due to limited attraction to artificial light sources.
Synanthedon rileyana
horsenettle borer, Riley's clearwing moth
Synanthedon rileyana is a clearwing moth in the family Sesiidae, notable for its effective wasp mimicry. Adults are diurnal and active from late spring through early autumn. The species is distinguished from similar clearwing moths by complete yellow banding on all abdominal segments and a red discal cell on the forewing. Larvae are borers in horsenettle (Solanum carolinense), a weedy plant common to sandy agricultural areas.
Synanthedon rubrofascia
Tupelo Clearwing Moth
Synanthedon rubrofascia, the Tupelo Clearwing Moth, is a North American clearwing moth in the family Sesiidae. Adults exhibit sexual dimorphism, with males possessing highly bipectinate (feathery) antennae. The species is diurnal and, like most sesiids, generally unattracted to light traps. It is associated with Nyssa (tupelo) host plants, though specific life history details remain poorly documented.
Synanthedon sapygaeformis
Florida Oakgall Moth, Florida Oakgall Borer Moth
Synanthedon sapygaeformis is a clearwing moth in the family Sesiidae, commonly known as the Florida Oakgall Moth or Florida Oakgall Borer Moth. A subspecies, S. sapygaeformis floridensis, has been documented in Florida with biological notes published in 1964. As with other sesiids, this species exhibits wasp mimicry through its transparent wings and hymenopteran-like appearance. The specific epithet 'sapygaeformis' references a resemblance to wasps in the genus Sapyga.
Synanthedon scitula
dogwood borer, pecan borer, Dogwood Borer Moth
Synanthedon scitula is a clearwing moth in the family Sesiidae and a significant pest of woody plants. Larvae tunnel into burrknot tissue and cambium of host trees, causing damage ranging from localized feeding to tree death. The species has one generation per year, with adults active from June through September. It is widely distributed across North America and has been recorded from numerous host species including dogwood, pecan, apple, and many other hardwoods.
Synanthedon viburni
Viburnum Clearwing Borer, Arrowwood Borer
A clearwing moth in the family Sesiidae that develops as a borer in viburnum shrubs. Adults are diurnal and wasp-mimicking, with transparent wings and dark bodies. The species is a documented pest of native arrowwood viburnum (Viburnum dentatum) and European cranberry bush viburnum (V. trilobum), causing crown damage that can kill established plants.
Synanthedonini
clearwing moths
Synanthedonini is a tribe of clearwing moths within the family Sesiidae, characterized by wasp-mimicking appearance and larval boring habits in plant tissues. Members exhibit diverse host plant associations across multiple families including Lauraceae, Fagaceae, Rosaceae, Fabaceae, and Proteaceae. The tribe has been documented across North America, Central and South America, Taiwan, and other regions, with several species recognized as economically significant pests of ornamental and native plants. Molecular studies using COI barcoding support species-level identification but reveal phylogenetic complexities, including the atypical placement of some genera previously separated based on morphology.
Tinthiinae
clearwing moths
Tinthiinae is a subfamily of clearwing moths (family Sesiidae) established by Ferdinand Le Cerf in 1917. The subfamily comprises 24 genera organized into four tribes: Tinthiini, Pennisetiini, Paraglosseciini, and Similipepsini. Members are characterized by reduced wing scaling that creates transparent, wasp- or hornet-like appearance—a form of Batesian mimicry. The group has been documented in approximately 2,400 observations on iNaturalist, indicating moderate but growing recognition among naturalists.
Tinthiini
Tinthiini is a tribe of clearwing moths within the family Sesiidae, subfamily Tinthiinae. Members of this tribe are characterized by their wasp-mimicking appearance, with reduced wing scaling that creates transparent or semi-transparent wings. The tribe was established by Le Cerf in 1917 and contains multiple genera distributed across various regions. These moths are generally diurnal and exhibit Batesian mimicry of hymenopterans as a defense strategy.
Vitacea
Grape Root Borer Moths
Vitacea is a genus of clearwing moths in the family Sesiidae, commonly known as grape root borer moths. The genus contains four recognized species, including Vitacea polistiformis, a significant agricultural pest of grape vineyards in the eastern United States. Adults are wasp mimics with reduced wing scaling that gives them a distinctive transparent appearance. Larvae are subterranean root borers that feed on grapevine roots, causing economically important damage to cultivated grapes.
Vitacea admirandus
Vitacea admirandus is a clearwing moth in the family Sesiidae, first described by Edwards in 1882. As a member of the genus Vitacea, it belongs to a group of moths whose larvae are specialized borers in woody plants, particularly grapevines (Vitis spp.). The genus is notable for containing economically significant pests of cultivated grapes in North America. Adults are diurnal and wasp-like in appearance, a common mimicry strategy in this family.
Vitacea scepsiformis
Lesser Grape Root Borer Moth
Vitacea scepsiformis, the lesser grape root borer moth, is a clearwing moth in the family Sesiidae. It occurs across eastern and central North America, where its larvae develop as root borers in grapevines (Vitis species). Adults are active from mid-summer through early autumn and are wasp mimics in appearance. The species is smaller than the related grape root borer (Vitacea polistiformis) and generally considered less economically damaging.
Zenodoxus
Zenodoxus is a genus of clearwing moths in the family Sesiidae, established by Grote & Robinson in 1868. The genus contains seven described species distributed in North America, including the United States and Mexico. As members of Sesiidae, adults likely exhibit wasp-mimicking morphology with partially transparent wings due to reduced scaling. Larval biology is poorly documented, though related genera often develop in plant roots or stems.
Zenodoxus heucherae
Zenodoxus heucherae is a species of clearwing moth in the family Sesiidae, first described by Henry Edwards in 1881. The species epithet references Heuchera, a genus of flowering plants in the saxifrage family, suggesting a possible host plant association. As a member of the subfamily Tinthiinae, it belongs to a group of sesiid moths often associated with herbaceous or shrubby hosts. The species is known from the Nearctic region, though detailed biological information remains limited.
Zenodoxus mexicanus
Zenodoxus mexicanus is a clearwing moth (family Sesiidae) described by Beutenmüller in 1897. The genus Zenodoxus belongs to the subfamily Tinthiinae, a group of sesiid moths characterized by their wasp-mimicking appearance and diurnal activity patterns. This species occurs in the Nearctic and Neotropical regions, with the specific epithet suggesting a Mexican distribution. Clearwing moths in this family are typically associated with woody plants, with larvae often boring into stems or roots.
Zenodoxus palmii
Zenodoxus palmii is a species of clearwing moth in the family Sesiidae, first described by Berthold Neumoegen in 1891 from specimens collected in the southwestern United States and Mexico. As a member of the subfamily Tinthiinae, it belongs to a group of sesiid moths often associated with monocot host plants. The species exhibits the characteristic wasp-mimicry typical of clearwing moths, with reduced wing scaling that leaves transparent areas on the wings. It is one of relatively few described species in the genus Zenodoxus, which is primarily distributed in the Nearctic and Neotropical regions.
Zenodoxus sidalceae
Zenodoxus sidalceae is a clearwing moth in the family Sesiidae, described by Engelhardt in 1946. The species epithet 'sidalceae' suggests a likely association with plants in the genus Sidalcea (mallow family, Malvaceae), though this relationship requires confirmation. As a member of the Tinthiinae subfamily, it belongs to a group of sesiid moths often characterized by wasp-mimicking appearance and diurnal activity. The species is poorly known, with limited observational records.