Carmenta bassiformis

Carmenta bassiformis
Female
Male
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Clade: Pancrustacea
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Sesiidae
Genus: Carmenta
Species:
C. bassiformis
Binomial name
Carmenta bassiformis
(Walker, 1856)
Synonyms
  • Aegeria bassiformis Walker, 1856
  • Trochilium lustrans Grote, 1880
  • Aegeria aureopurpura Edwards, 1880
  • Aegeria bolli Edwards, 1881
  • Aegeria sexfasciata Edwards, 1881
  • Aegeria consimilis Edwards, 1881
  • Aegeria eupatorii Edwards, 1881
  • Aegeria imitata Edwards, 1881

Carmenta bassiformis, the eupatorium borer moth or ironweed clearwing moth, is a moth of the family Sesiidae.[1] It was described by Francis Walker in 1856. Adults are on wing from late May to September.[2]

Description and sexual dimorphism

C. bassiformis displays clear wings, or areas of translucence, with a dark border around the forewing. Their wingspan in males is 17-20 mm, with females being 20-22 mm. Both males and females have a purplish-black thorax, and the abdomen the same but with yellow stripes. On females, the 3rd and 5th stripe will be thinner, while males will remain, for the most part, around the same width. Females will also have white segments on their antennae, while males will have all black or short tips of white. Female's tails will have a tuft of orange, while male's will be more flat and black.[3][2]

Distribution

C. bassiformis is found in the eastern United States from New York to Florida; west to Wisconsin, Kansas, and Texas.[4][3][5]

Diet

The larvae of C. bassiformis feed on the roots of ironweed and Joe-Pye weed, specifically Eutrochium purpureum.[6][2]

References

  1. ↑ Markku Savela. "Carmenta". Lepidoptera and some other life forms. Retrieved 2011-12-16.
  2. 1 2 3 "Eupatorium Borer Moth". butterfliesandmoths.org. Montana State University. Retrieved 3 August 2026.
  3. 1 2 Englehardt, George P. (1946). The North American Clear-wing Moths of the Family Aegeriidae. Smithsonian Institution. p. 65. ISBN 1115231448. Retrieved 3 August 2026. {{cite book}}: ISBN / Date incompatibility (help)
  4. ↑ "Butterflies and Moths of North America". Butterfliesandmoths.org. Archived from the original on 2010-06-20. Retrieved 2011-12-16.
  5. ↑ "Ironweed Clearwing Moth". iNaturalist. Retrieved 3 August 2026.
  6. ↑ "Species Carmenta bassiformis - Eupatorium Borer Moth - Hodges#2596". BugGuide. Iowa State University. Retrieved 3 August 2026.
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