Sesiidae

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.

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

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

Sesiidae are characterized by their hymenopteriform[lower-alpha 1] 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

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  Movements, including flight, mimic those of Hymenoptera spp.[2]: 16  Specimens are commonly collected using pheromone lures.[3][2]: 22 

Taxonomy

References
  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. Laštůvka, Zdeněk; Laštůvka, Aleš (2001). The Sesiidae of Europe. Stenstrup: Apollo Books. ISBN 8788757528.
  3. 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.
  • 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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