Bug FAQWestern Poplar Clearwing Moth
Paranthrene robiniae · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Sesiidae
Also called: Western Poplar Clearwing
The Western Poplar Clearwing Moth lives from sea level up to near the timber line across a broad swath of western North America.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it lives
Its habitat includes lowland areas up to near-timber-line environments across its western North American range.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
The species is native to a large portion of the United States and Canada, from Alaska and the Pacific Coast eastward to the central plains.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 13 of 51 states and DC. Most records: California, Oregon, Nevada, Arizona, Utah, Washington, New Mexico, Colorado.
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
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_robiniae
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.