Clear-Winged Moth

Clear-Winged Moth Photo, Picture
  • Common Name: Clear-Winged Moth
  • Order Name: Lepidoptera
  • Family Name: Sesiidae

The moth members of this Order of insects include a large number of diverse families. Moth groups include micro moths, leaf miners, clothes moths, plume moths, ermine moths, burnets, geometrids, silk moths, sphinx moths, tiger moths, wasp moths, noctuids, underwings and many others.

The unusual bright coloration of this moth forms part of an elaborate wasp mimic charade that includes, coloration, flight behavior, buzzing noise of the wings in flight and the hind legs being held out behind in flight to mimic the egg laying apparatus of a wasp. Caterpillars bore into roots and stems rather than eating leaves.