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Sesiidae

(Redirected from Clearwing moth)
"Clearwing moth" redirects here. For the Sphingidae genus referred to by the same name in the US, see Hemaris.

The Sesiidae or clearwing moths are a diurnal moth family in the order Lepidoptera known for their Batesian mimicry in both appearance and behaviour of various Hymenoptera.

Sesiidae
Synanthedon tipuliformis
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Superfamily: Cossoidea
Family: Sesiidae
Boisduval, 1828
Type species
Sphinx apiformis
Clerck, 1759
Subfamilies

Sesiinae
Tinthiinae

Diversity
165 genera
1,525 species
Synonyms
  • Aegeriidae Stephens, 1828
  • Trochiliidae Westwood, 1843
Synanthedon tipuliformis, larva

The family consists of 165 genera spread over two subfamilies, containing in total 1525 species and 49 subspecies,[1] most of which occur in the tropics, though there are many species in the Holarctic region as well, including over a hundred species known to occur in Europe.[2]: Backcover, 6 

Morphology

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Sesiidae are characterized by their hymenopteriform[a] Batesian mimicry, frequently of identifiable species.[2]: 11, 16  Most species of Sesiidae have wings with areas where scales are nearly completely absent, resulting in partial, marked transparency.[2]: 11  Forewings are commonly elongated and narrow in the basal half.[2]: 11  In many species, the abdomen is elongated, with an anal tuft, and striped or ringed yellow, red or white,[2]: 11  sometimes very brightly so. Legs are long, thin and frequently coloured,[2]: 11  and in some species the hind-legs are elongated.[3] In European species, the wing span ranges from 8 to 48 mm.[2]: 11 

Larvae lack pigment. Segments of the thorax are somewhat enlarged.[2]: 11 

Behaviour

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Melittia cucurbitae hovering for nectar

The larvae of the Sesiidae typically bore in wood 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). Larval development lasts 1–4 years, pupal stage 10–20 days.[2]: 16 

Adults are diurnally active.[3][2]: 16  Specimens are commonly collected using pheromone lures.[3][2]: 22 

Movements, including hovering flight, mimic those of Hymenoptera spp.[2]: 16  [4]

Taxonomy

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References

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  1. ^ Hymenoptera + form: having the appearance of Hymenoptera species, such as wasps and hornets
  1. ^ Pühringer, Franz (10 October 2021). "Checklist of the Sesiidae of the world (Lepidoptera: Ditrysia)". Retrieved 6 February 2022.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Laštůvka, Zdeněk; Laštůvka, Aleš (2001). The Sesiidae of Europe. Stenstrup: Apollo Books. ISBN 8788757528.
  3. ^ a b c Sadahisa, Yagi; Toshiya, Hirowatari; Yutaka, Arita (7 March 2016). "A remarkable new species of the genus Teinotarsina (Lepidoptera, Sesiidae) from Okinawa-jima, Japan". ZooKeys (571): 143–152. doi:10.3897/zookeys.571.7780. PMC 4829806. PMID 27110163.
  4. ^ Potter, Daniel (2 October 2014). Capinera, J.L. (ed.). "Clearwing Moths (Lepidoptera: Sesiidae)". Encyclopedia of Entomology. Springer, Dordrecht: 928. doi:10.1007/978-1-4020-6359-6_5123.
  • 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.
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