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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Butterflies and Moths (Lepidoptera) » Carpenter and Clearwing Moths (Cossoidea) » Clearwing Moths (Sesiidae) » Sesiinae » Sesiini » Sesia » European Hornet Moth - Hodges#2542 (Sesia apiformis)
Photo#15972
Hornet Clearwing Moth - Sesia apiformis
Copyright © 2005 tom murray

Hornet Clearwing Moth - Sesia apiformis
Harvard, Worcester County, Massachusetts, USA
July 3, 2004
Paranthrene simulens. I thought it was a large wasp until I looked at the picture, and saw the hairy bug.
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Contributed by tom murray on 30 April, 2005 - 7:45am
Last updated 1 May, 2005 - 6:37am

Excellent Photo
Looks very much like 2542 Sesia apiformis, a European species that was introduced into new England before 1880. If it is this species then the host plants of the larvae are Populus spp.
The common name wopuld be Hornet Moth, or Poplar Hornet Clearwing with the former being the most widely accepted.
See MONA Fascicle 5.1

Anthony W. Thomas
… A.W. Thomas, 30 April, 2005 - 3:20pm login or register to post comments

 
Sesia apiformis
Thanks Tony, I think you're right. Hornet Moth pictures I found on the net were very close. The brown leading edge on the wings, the brown legs, dorsal markings on the thorax all match, and the dark bands on the abdomen are all black in the picture I found on the web, but are in the right place.
… tom murray, 30 April, 2005 - 7:14pm login or register to post comments

Wow
Amazing mimicry!
… Beatriz Moisset, 30 April, 2005 - 9:47am login or register to post comments

 
I know!
That's why I love this family of moths! They mimic wasp and bees with an art! If I saw this from a distance I would, with 1000%, mistake it for a hornet of some kind and I would run! ;)
… Brittanie McCormack, 26 June, 2006 - 4:26pm login or register to post comments

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