Bug FAQRiley's Clearwing Moth
Synanthedon rileyana · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Sesiidae
Also called: Riley's Clearwing
Riley's clearwing moth (Synanthedon rileyana) is a member of the family Sesiidae and is also known as the horsenettle borer. Its wingspan is about 20 to 23 mm and adults fly from May through September, producing several generations each year.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
Riley's clearwing moth belongs to the family Sesiidae and is also called the horsenettle borer.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
Its wingspan measures about 20 to 23 millimeters.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
The caterpillars feed on the plant Solanum carolinense.
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
Adults are active from May through September and the species produces several generations each year.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
Adults are on the wing from May to September.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
Its native range is within the United States, including those states.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 32 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Michigan, Virginia, Georgia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, North Carolina, New York.
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
When are adult Riley's clearwing moths active?
Adults are on the wing from May to September.
Source: Wikipedia
What do the larvae of Riley's clearwing moth eat?
The larvae feed on Solanum carolinense.
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/Synanthedon_rileyana
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.