Bug FAQAmerican Hornet Moth
Sesia tibiale · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Sesiidae
Also called: cottonwood crown borer
Adult American Hornet Moths look and size like hornets, which can cause confusion. They are native to and found across many western and central North American states and provinces.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
Their coloration and body shape make them look like hornets.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
Adults are about the size of hornets.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
Their native range covers many parts of North America such as the listed states and provinces.
Source: Wikipedia
Lookalikes
They are often mistaken for hornets because of their similar appearance.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 15 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Oregon, Colorado, California, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Arizona, Utah.
Darker = more records. Counts are museum and citizen-science records, not population size.
Source: GBIF
Status: native in North America; native in United States; native in Canada. Source: iNaturalist
Months it is reported in the US
Source: GBIF
More photos
Same family (Sesiidae)
Purplish CopperLycaena helloides
Squash Vine BorerEichlinia cucurbitaeDamages trees, gardens or crops
Bronze CopperLycaena hyllus
Maple Callus Borer MothSynanthedon acerniDamages trees, gardens or crops
Southern Red RimBiblis hyperia
Peachtree Borer MothSynanthedon exitiosaDamages trees, gardens or cropsSources
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sesia_tibialis
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-25 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-25.