The Sesiidae or clearwing moths are a family of the Lepidoptera in which the wings have hardly any of the normal lepidopteran scales, leaving them transparent. The bodies are generally striped with yellow, sometimes very brightly, and they have simple antennae. The general appearance is sufficiently similar to a wasp or hornet to make it likely that the moths gain a reduction in predation by Batesian mimicry. This enables them to be active in daylight. They are commonly collected using pheromone lures.

The larvae of the Sesiidae are typically wood-borers, or burrow in plant roots. Many species are serious pests of fruit-tree or timber cultivation, or crop plants (e.g. Melittia spp. on squash) (Edwards et al., 1999).

Care should be taken not to confuse these moths with the Hemaris genus of the family Sphingidae. These are also known as clearwing moths in the U.S., but normally as Bee Hawk-Moths in Britain. These have generally fatter furrier bodies than sesiid clearwings, looking similar to bumble bees, and lack the striped colouration.

Bembecia chrysidiformis

Synathedon spp

References

• Edwards, E.D., Gentili, P., Horak, M., Kristensen, N.P. and Nielsen, E.S. (1999). The cossoid/sesioid assemblage. Ch. 11, pp. 183-185 in Kristensen, N.P. (Ed.). Lepidoptera, Moths and Butterflies. Volume 1: Evolution, Systematics, and Biogeography. Handbuch der Zoologie. Eine Naturgeschichte der Stämme des Tierreiches / Handbook of Zoology. A Natural History of the phyla of the Animal Kingdom. Band / Volume IV Arthropoda: Insecta Teilband / Part 35: 491 pp. Walter de Gruyter, Berlin, New York.

External links

• Dr. Franz Pühringer: Sesiidae
• Sesiidae of [[Serbia]] in English
• ''Synanthedon exitiosa'', peachtree borer on the UF / IFAS Featured Creatures Web site

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