#sesiidae

[herpsandbirds]

Wasp-mimic Moth (Tyrictaca sp.), family Sesiidae, Malaysia

photographs by Timmy Wong

[artifacts-and-arthropods]

Moths in Disguise: these are all just harmless moths that have developed the ability to mimic wasps, bees, and hornets

Above: Eusphecia pimplaeformis, Myrmecopsis polistes, and Pennisetia marginatum

Moths are exceptionally skilled when it comes to mimicry, and there are thousands of moth species that rely on that tactic as a way to deter predators. Their disguises vary, but hymenopteran mimicry (i.e. the mimicry of wasps, bees, hornets, and bumblebees) is especially common.

Above: two wasp-mimicking moths of the genus Pseudosphex

Some of these disguises involve more than just a physical resemblance -- there are some moths that also engage in behavioral and/or acoustic mimicry, meaning that they can imitate the specific sounds and behaviors of their hymenopteran models. In some cases, these moths are so convincing that they can even fool the actual wasps that they are mimicking. Such a detailed and intricate disguise is unusual even among mimics.

Above: Pseudosphex ichneumonea is depicted at the top, and two unidentified moths from the genus Myrmecopsis and genus Pseudosphex are depicted at the bottom

Researchers believe that these disguises may have developed as a way to trick wasps into treating the moths like one of their own. Wasps tend to prey upon moths (and many other insects) but they are innately non-aggressive toward their own nest-mates, which are identified by sight -- so if a moth can convincingly impersonate its model, then it can avoid being eaten by predatory wasps.

There are many moths that can also mimic hornets, bumblebees, and cuckoo bees.

Above: Sesia apiformis, Sphecodoptera scribai, and Pennisetia marginatum

Moths are some of the most talented mimics in the natural world, as illustrated by their mastery of hymenopteran mimicry. But it's not just bees, hornets, and wasps -- there are many other forms of mimicry that can be found among moths, and the resemblance is often staggering.

Above: the bumblebee-mimicking moths Hemaris tityus and Hemaris affinis

Moths deserve far more credit than they receive, to be honest, because they are just so incredibly interesting and diverse.

Sources & More Info:

Journal of Ecology and Evolution: A Hypothesis to Explain the Accuracy of Wasp Resemblances

Frontiers in Zoology: Southeast Asian clearwing moths buzz like their model bees

Royal Society Publishing: Moving like a model: mimicry of hymenopteran flight trajectories by clearwing moths of Southeast Asian rainforests

[bowelfly]

its time to think about critters

[jupiterswasphouse]

[PHOTOS TAKEN: MARCH 28TH, 2026 | Image IDs: Two photos of a brown, orange, and black clearwing moth, with notably mostly transparent wings, seemingly missing some legs. In the first, its perched on some dirty white metal, some of its legs caught up in a mall bit of abandoned webbing. In the second, it rests on a human finger. /End IDs.]

Freed this clearwing from a bit of abandoned spider web, may have been too injured to do much from there though, it didn't seem to have the strength to fly.

[fizzygoldfish]

[life-on-our-planet]

Clearwing moths are a family of moths known for their Batesian mimicry of various Hymenoptera including wasps, hornets, and bees. Their large size and hovering movements mean that they're also often mistaken for hummingbirds. ©JanV

[alfalfa-alfalfa]

A wasp mimicking clearwing moth (Synanthedon bicingulata)

[drhoz]

#3739 - Synanthedon tipuliformis - Currant Clearwing Moth

Since the garden behind the motel had both blackcurrants and gooseberries, it's probably not surprising it also had a pest that feeds only on that genus.

Caterpillars of the Currant Clearwing bore into the stems of Ribes, and severely limit their growth. Controlling the moth numbers usually requires pruning off infested canes. It's native to the temperate parts of Europe and the Caucasus, but is an invasive pest in North America, New Zealand, and the the SE of Australia.

Sesiid moths are day-flying, frequently mimic wasps with their markings and hovering flight, and feed inside the stems and roots of plants. Agricultural pest species include the squash vine borer (Melittia cucurbitae) and the peachtree borer (Synanthedon exitiosa).

Dunedin, Aotearoa New Zealand.