Translucent-wings
Guides
Cicadinae
translucent cicadas
Cicadinae is a large subfamily of cicadas (Hemiptera: Cicadidae) commonly known as the translucent cicadas. Members are typically robust with many species displaying bright coloration, though they generally lack the opaque, butterfly-like wing markings characteristic of the related subfamily Tibiceninae. The subfamily comprises multiple tribes and has undergone substantial taxonomic revision between 2010 and 2018 based on morphological and molecular phylogenetic analyses. Some classification schemes merge Tibiceninae into Cicadinae partially or entirely.
Diaphania costata
Orange-shouldered Sherbet Moth, White Palpita Moth
Diaphania costata is a small moth in the family Crambidae, first described by Johan Christian Fabricius in 1794. It is notable for its translucent white wings with a distinctive gold line along the leading edge of the forewing. The species has an exceptionally wide distribution, occurring naturally across the Indomalayan realm and Europe, with introduced populations established in Mexico and Texas. Adults are active and can be found year-round in suitable climates, with wingspans under 20 mm.
Xenophanes tryxus
Glassy-winged Skipper
Xenophanes tryxus is a skipper butterfly (Hesperiidae: Pyrginae) distributed across northern South America and Central America. The species is commonly known as the Glassy-winged Skipper, a name derived from its translucent wing patches. It is among the more frequently observed skippers in its range, with over 3,400 records on iNaturalist. The species was originally described by Stoll in 1780 as Papilio tryxus.