Bug FAQRed Oak Clearwing Moth
Paranthrene simulans · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Sesiidae
Also called: Hornet Clearwing Moth, Hornet Clearwing
Source: Wikipedia
The red oak clearwing moth, Paranthrene simulans, belongs to the clearwing moth family Sesiidae. Adults have a wingspan of about 27 to 40 mm and emerge in June and July. The species lives in eastern North America, from Nova Scotia down to Florida and west to Minnesota, Missouri and Mississippi.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
The moth’s wingspan ranges from 27 to 40 mm.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
Larvae feed on chestnut and oak trees, including both red and white oaks.
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
The species has a two-year life cycle.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
Adult moths emerge during June and July.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
Its native range covers the eastern United States and eastern Canada.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 30 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Texas, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Massachusetts, Illinois, New York, Kentucky.
Darker = more records. Counts are museum and citizen-science records, not population size.
Source: GBIF
Status: native in North America; native in Canada; native in United States. Source: iNaturalist
Months it is reported in the US
Source: GBIF
More photos
Questions people ask
What do the larvae eat?
The larvae feed on chestnut and oak trees, including red and white oaks.
Source: Wikipedia
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/Paranthrene_simulans
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.