The species is found east of the Rocky Mountains. The primary food plant is ash (Fraxinus) and lilac (Syringae). A yellow color variation is found in the northern states and Canada. It can be a serious pest in commercial plant operations. Podosesia aureocincta, a closely related species flys in late July through September in the north. This image was taken by Peter Carrington for "A Guide to the Clearwing Borers (Sesiidae) of the North Central United States" North Central Regional Pub. No. 394, Updated March 2004.