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.

The family consists of 165 genera spread over two subfamilies, containing in total 1525 species and 49 subspecies, 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.

Morphology

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

Larvae lack pigment. Segments of the thorax are somewhat enlarged.

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.

Adults are diurnally active. Specimens are commonly collected using pheromone lures.

Movements, including hovering flight, mimic those of Hymenoptera spp.

Taxonomy

• Subfamily Tinthiinae Le Cerf, 1917 Tribe Tinthiini Le Cerf, 1917 Microsphecia Bartel, 1912 Tinthia Walker, [1865] Sophona Walker, 1856 Zenodoxus Grote & Robinson, 1868 Conopsia Strand, [1913] Paranthrenopsis Le Cerf, 1911 Entrichella Bryk, 1947 Negotinthia Gorbunov, 2001 Trichocerota Hampson, [1893] Paradoxecia Hampson, 1919 Rectala Bryk, 1947 Ceratocorema Hampson, [1893] Caudicornia Bryk, 1947 Bidentotinthia Arita & Gorbunov, 2003 Tarsotinthia Arita & Gorbunov, 2003 Tyrictaca Walker, 1862 Tribe Pennisetiini Naumann, 1971 Pennisetia Dehne, 1850 Corematosetia Kallies & Arita, 2001 Tribe Paraglosseciini Gorbunov & Eitschberger 1990 Oligophlebia Hampson, [1893] Isothamnis Meyrick, 1935 Cyanophlebia Arita & Gorbunov, 2001 Lophocnema Turner, 1917 Diapyra Turner, 1917 Micrecia Hampson, 1919 Tribe Similipepsini Špatenka, Laštuvka, Gorbunov, Toševski & Arita, 1993 Similipepsis Le Cerf, 1911 Gasterostena Arita & Gorbunov, 2003
• Subfamily Sesiinae Boisduval, 1828 Tribe Sesiini Boisduval, 1828 Sesia Fabricius, 1775 Trilochana Moore, 1879 Cyanosesia Gorbunov & Arita, 1995 Sphecosesia Hampson, 1910 Teinotarsina Felder, 1874 Lenyra Walker, 1856 Aegerosphecia Le Cerf, 1916 Lamellisphecia Kallies & Arita, 2004 Clavigera Kallies & Arita, 2004 Eusphecia Le Cerf, 1937 Scasiba Matsumura, 1931 Callisphecia Le Cerf, 1916 Madasphecia Viette, 1982 Melittosesia Bartsch, 2009 Barbasphecia Pühringer & Sáfián 2011 Afrokona Fischer, 2006 Hovaesia Le Cerf, 1957 Lenyrhova Le Cerf, 1957 Tribe Cissuvorini Duckworth & Eichlin 1977 Toleria Walker, [1865] Chimaerosphecia Strand, [1916] Glossosphecia Hampson, 1919 Cissuvora Engelhardt, 1946 Dasysphecia Hampson, 1919 Tribe Osminiini Duckworth & Eichlin 1977 Osminia Le Cerf, 1917 Chamanthedon Le Cerf, 1916 Microsynanthedon Viette, [1955] Calasesia Beutenmüller, 1899 Aenigmina Le Cerf, 1912 Cabomina de Freina, 2008 Pyranthrene Hampson, 1919 Homogyna Le Cerf, 1911 Aschistophleps Hampson [1893] Pyrophleps Arita & Gorbunov, 2000 Heterosphecia Le Cerf, 1916 Melanosphecia Le Cerf, 1916 Akaisphecia Gorbunov & Arita, 1995 Callithia Le Cerf, 1916 Tribe Melittiini Le Cerf, 1917 Melittia Hübner, [1819] Desmopoda Felder, 1874 Agriomelissa Meyrick, 1931 Afromelittia Gorbunov & Arita, 1997 Cephalomelittia Gorbunov & Arita, 1995 Macroscelesia Hampson, 1919 Tribe Paranthrenini Niculescu, 1964 Nokona Matsumura 1931 Taikona Arita & Gorbunov, 2001 Scoliokona Kallies & Arita, 1998 Rubukona Fischer, 2007 Adixoa Hampson, [1893] Pramila Moore, 1879 Vitacea Engelhardt, 1946 Phlogothauma Butler, 1882 Paranthrene Hübner, [1819] Pseudosesia Felder, 1861 Albuna Edwards, 1881 Euhagena Edwards, 1881 Sincara Walker, 1856 Tirista Walker, [1865] Thyranthrene Hampson, 1919 Sura Walker, 1856 Tribe Synanthedonini Niculescu, 1964Synanthedon sp. Synanthedon Hübner, [1819] Ravitria Gorbunov & Arita, 2000 Kantipuria Gorbunov & Arita, 1999 Kemneriella Bryk, 1947 Ichneumenoptera Hampson, [1893] Paranthrenella Strand, [1916] Anthedonella Gorbunov & Arita, 1999 Schimia Gorbunov & Arita, 1999 Uncothedon Gorbunov & Arita, 1999 Synanthedon myopaeformisPalmia Beutenmüller, 1896 Podosesia Möschler, 1879 Sannina Walker, 1856 Nyctaegeria Le Cerf, 1914 Carmenta Edwards, 1881 Penstemonia Engelhardt, 1946 Camaegeria Strand, 1914 Malgassesia Le Cerf, 1922 Lophoceps Hampson, 1919 Tipulamima Holland, 1893 Rodolphia Le Cerf, 1911 Alcathoe Edwards, 1882 Pseudalcathoe Le Cerf, 1916 Macrotarsipus Hampson, [1893] Grypopalpia Hampson, 1919 Hymenoclea Engelhardt, 1946 Euryphrissa Butler, 1874 Leptaegeria Le Cerf, 1916 Aegerina Le Cerf, 1917 Stenosphecia Le Cerf, 1917 Bembecia Hübner, [1819] Pyropteron Newman, 1832The fiery clearwing moth, Pyropteron chrysidiformis Dipchasphecia Capuse, 1973 Chamaesphecia Spuler, 1910 Weismanniola Naumann, 1971 Ichneumonella Gorbunov & Arita, 2005 Crinipus Hampson, 1896 Genera unassigned to tribe Alonina Walker, 1856 Anaudia Wallengren, 1863 Augangela Meyrick, 1932 Austrosetia Felder, 1874 Ceritrypetes Bradley, 1956 Conopyga Felder, 1861 Echidgnathia Hampson, 1919 Episannina Aurivillius, 1905 Erismatica Meyrick, 1933 Gymnosophistis Meyrick, 1934 Hymenosphecia Le Cerf, 1917 Isocylindra Meyrick, 1930 Lepidopoda Hampson, 1900 Leuthneria Dalla Torre, 1925 Megalosphecia Le Cerf, 1916 Melisophista Meyrick, 1927 Metasphecia Le Cerf, 1917 Mimocrypta Naumann, 1971 Monopetalotaxis Wallengren, 1859 Pedalonina Gaede, 1929 Proaegeria Le Cerf, 1916 Pseudomelittia Le Cerf, 1917 Tradescanticola Hampson, 1919 Uranothyris Meyrick, 1933 Vespanthedon Le Cerf, 1917 Xenoses Durrant, 1924 Zhuosesia Yang, 1977

• 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

• in English
• on the UF / IFAS Featured Creatures Web site
• on the UF / IFAS Featured Creatures Web site
• Gallery
• 2020-08-14 at the Wayback Machine
• 2008-08-07 at the Wayback Machine Family description and nineteenth century plates.