Habitat
Adults: terrestrial
Immatures: terrestrial

Feeding Habits
Adults: nectar and pollen feeding
Immatures: phytophagous

North American
Species: 115

Lepidoptera Sesiidae
Clearwing moths

Special Characteristics: Sesiids are small to medium sized moths that have no scales on a large portion of their wings. The front wings are long and narrow and the hind wings are broad. Many species are brightly coloured and some species look like wasps. The hind legs are covered with dense long hairs. Males and females of the same species are often different colours and sometimes one sex can have a larger part of the wings free of scales.

Comments: The larvae bore into the roots, stems or trunks of trees and other plants. The larvae sometimes cause serious damage to the trees and species that feed on fruit trees can be serious pests. These moths are active during the day.

Species:
Synanthedon exitiosa (Say)

Common Name:
Peach tree borer

Feeding Habits: The larvae burrow into the wood of apricot, peach and plum trees and other species.

Distribution:
Eastern Canada.

Comments:
This is a major pest of peach trees. The females of this species have the front wings fully scaled but the males have very few scales.