Where’s Wildlife · Moth Field Guide
Carmenta bassiformis
This small clearwing moth has a wasplike appearance and a caterpillar that lives out of sight in plant roots.
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MOTH FIELD NOTES
Clearwing moths have transparent areas in their wings and can resemble wasps. Compare several photographs and the full wing pattern when checking an identification. [2]
Compare the markings in these field photographs. Select any image to browse the full gallery.
The caterpillars bore into host-plant roots rather than feeding openly on leaves. Ironweed and Joe-Pye weed are recorded hosts. [1]
For this species, “caterpillar food” means roots. An adult resting on a flower does not by itself establish that flower as a larval host. [1]
Explore reported Ironweed Clearwing sightings. Observation records show where people have documented this moth and are not a complete range map.
[1] Butterflies and Moths of North America — Eupatorium Borer Moth
Scientific name, family, and root-feeding hosts.
[2] BugGuide — Family Sesiidae
Clearwing family identification and wasplike appearance.