Bug FAQSycamore Borer Moth
Synanthedon resplendens · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Sesiidae
Also called: Sycamore Borer
Source: Wikipedia
The sycamore borer moth has a wingspan of about 18 to 24 mm and mostly yellow, transparent wings with black markings on the body. Adults fly from May through early August, peaking in June-July, and there is one generation each year.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
The moth’s wingspan ranges from about 18 to 24 mm.
Source: Wikipedia
Is it a pest in the house?
Sycamores tolerate extensive boring and no control is usually recommended. Tree damage is generally minor and considered of little importance.
Source: Wikipedia
How to get rid of it
Control is generally not needed because trees tolerate the boring.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it lives
Galleries are usually near the base and lower trunk but can be found up to 9 m up the tree.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
Larvae feed under bark of the listed host trees and rarely damage the cambium or wood.
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
One generation occurs each year.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
It is native to western North America, found throughout California, up to Yukon, and east to New Mexico.
Source: Wikipedia
Lookalikes
The ceanothus clearwing (Synanthedon mellinipennis) overlaps in range and uses similar host plants.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 3 of 51 states and DC. Most records: California, Oregon, New Mexico.
Darker = more records. Counts are museum and citizen-science records, not population size.
Source: GBIF
Status: native in North America; native in Canada. Source: iNaturalist
Months it is reported in the US
Source: GBIF
More photos
Questions people ask
Do I need to control sycamore borer moths?
No control is usually recommended; the trees tolerate the boring.
Source: Wikipedia
When will I see adult moths?
Adults fly from May through early August, especially in June and July.
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_resplendens
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-28 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-28.