The wingspan is 32–42mm. The length of the forewings is 15–19mm.Like all moths of the Sesiidae family, the Bembex clearwing resembles a hymenopteran (wasp) both in its appearance and flight. The wings are scaleless and transparent, narrow and elongated in shape.
Sesia bembeciformis is hardly distinguishable from its closest congenerSesia apiformis. However, apiformis has yellow 'epaulettes' on the "shoulders" directly above the wing bases; Sesia bembeciformis is dark coloured at this point except for the yellow neck ring.bembeciformis is also smaller and has a black head. In general, females are considerably larger than males. It resembles a big hornet (Vespa crabro) really well - an instance of mimicry.
The moths appear in June, July and August, they are then found resting on the trunks of willows. These include sal willow (Salix caprea), ash willow (Salix cinerea) and ear willow (Salix aurita). The eggs are laid on the bark. The larvae first gnaw between the bark and the wood, but later crawl further into the stem. Larva development takes 3 – 4 years. The species has a hidden way of life, and the imago lives only briefly,[citation needed] which makes it easily overlooked.
Salix alba, the white willow, is a species of willow native to Europe and western and central Asia. The name derives from the white tone to the undersides of the leaves.
Salix caprea, known as goat willow, pussy willow or great sallow, is a common species of willow native to Europe and western and central Asia.
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.
Pussy willow is a name given to many of the smaller species of the genus Salix when their furry catkins are young in early spring. These species include :
The lesser yellow underwing is a moth of the family Noctuidae.
Salix arctica, the Arctic willow, is a tiny creeping willow. It is adapted to survive in Arctic conditions, specifically tundras.
The hornet moth or hornet clearwing is a large moth native to Europe and the Middle East and has been introduced to North America. Its protective coloration is an example of Batesian mimicry, as its similarity to a hornet makes it unappealing to predators. The hornet moth has been linked to the large dieback of poplar trees across Europe because its larvae bore into the trunk of the tree before re-emerging as adults.
Paranthrene tabaniformis, the dusky clearwing, is a moth of the family Sesiidae. It is found in the Palearctic and Nearctic realms.
Synanthedon vespiformis, the yellow-legged clearwing, is a moth of the family Sesiidae. It is found in the Palearctic realm.
Batrachedra praeangusta is a moth of the family Batrachedridae which is native to Europe. It is also found in North America. It was first described by Adrian Haworth in 1828 from the type specimen found in England. The foodplants of the larvae are poplars and willows.
Epinotia cruciana, the willow tortrix, is a moth of the family Tortricidae.
Stigmella obliquella is a moth of the family Nepticulidae which feeds on willow and can be found in Asia and Europe. It was first described by Hermann von Heinemann in 1862.
Ectoedemia intimella is a moth of the family Nepticulidae which is found in Europe. It flies in June and July and the larva mine the leaves of willows from July to November.
Ichneumenoptera chrysophanes, the clearwing persimmon borer, is a moth of the family Sesiidae. It is found from Cairns in Queensland to Canberra in the Australian Capital Territory.
Sesia is a genus of moths in the family Sesiidae.
Sesia tibialis, the American hornet moth, poplar clearwing borer or cottonwood crown borer, is a moth of the family Sesiidae. It is known from North America, including British Columbia, Colorado, Utah, Michigan, Montana, Washington, California and Arizona.
Synanthedon formicaeformis, the red-tipped clearwing, is a moth of the family Sesiidae and can be found in all of Europe, the eastern Palearctic realm, and the Near East. The larvae sometimes form pear-shaped galls on willows. It was first described by Eugenius Johann Christoph Esper in 1783.
Synanthedon flaviventris, the sallow clearwing, is a moth of the family Sesiidae. The larvae form pear-shaped galls on sallows.
Synanthedon polaris is a moth of the family Sesiidae. It is found in the Alps of Switzerland and Italy and in Fennoscandia and northern Russia.
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