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 squash vine borer is a diurnal species of sesiid moth. The moth is often mistaken for a bee or wasp because of its movements, and the bright orange hind leg scales. The females typically lay their eggs at the base of leaf stalks, and the caterpillars develop and feed inside the stalk, eventually killing the leaf. They soon migrate to the main stem, and with enough feeding damage to the stem, the entire plant may die. For this reason, it is considered a pest that attacks cultivated varieties of squash, zucchini, pumpkin, and acorn squash. The squash vine borer is native to North America, with some reports as far south as Brazil and Argentina. It lives in most temperate North American states, except the Pacific coast. Southern states have two broods a year.
Melittia oedipus, the African vine borer, is a moth of the family Sesiidae. It originates from Africa, but has been introduced in Hawaii to control ivy gourd.
Melittia doddi is a moth of the family Sesiidae. It is known only from Queensland, where it was collected near Kuranda.
Melittia chalybescens is a moth of the family Sesiidae. It is known only from Queensland, where it was collected near Kuranda and Mackay.
Melittia is a genus of moths in the family Sesiidae.
Melittia snowii is a moth of the family Sesiidae. It is known from the United States, including Arizona.
Melittia aureosquamata is a moth of the family Sesiidae. It is known from Malawi, South Africa and Zambia.
Melittia houlberti is a moth of the family Sesiidae. It is known from Uganda.
Melittia laniremis is a moth of the family Sesiidae. It is known from South Africa.
Melittia rufodorsa is a moth of the family Sesiidae. It is known from South Africa.
Melittia pyropis is a moth of the family Sesiidae. It is known from Malawi, Somalia and South Africa.
Melittia laboissierei is a moth of the family Sesiidae. It is known from Uganda.
Melittia azrael is a moth of the family Sesiidae. It is known from Gabon.
Melittia boulleti is a moth of the family Sesiidae. It is known from Mozambique.
Melittia chalconota is a moth of the family Sesiidae. It is known from Ghana, Nigeria and Tanzania.
Melittia congoana is a moth of the family Sesiidae. It is known from the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Melittia ectothyris is a moth of the family Sesiidae. It is known from South Africa.
