# Red-belted Clearwing Moth (*Synanthedon myopaeformis*) The Red-belted Clearwing Moth looks like a tiny hummingbird! It has bright red bands on its body and can be found fluttering around flowers during the day. - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Gardens ![Red-belted Clearwing Moth](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Red-belted_Clearwing_Synanthedon_myopaeformis.jpg&width=800) Photo: Neil Phillips, CC BY 2.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Red-belted_Clearwing_Synanthedon_myopaeformis.jpg) ## Appearance The Red-belted Clearwing Moth has transparent, scale-less wings and a slender, dark body. It features a bright reddish-orange band around its abdomen, making it look strikingly similar to a wasp. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Lepidoptera - **Family:** Sesiidae - **Genus:** Synanthedon ## Interesting facts - Adult Red-belted Clearwing Moths fly during the daytime, unlike most moths. - Instead of fuzzy scales, most of its wings are clear like glass! - It's an amazing insect actor, pretending to be a wasp to trick its enemies! - Its caterpillars spend up to two years hidden inside tree trunks! ## Special abilities - **Wasp Disguise:** Red-belted Clearwing Moths can perfectly mimic a stinging wasp because of their appearance and flight, which helps them scare away predators. - **Clear Flight:** Red-belted Clearwing Moths have clear, scale-free wings that help them fly quickly and look more like fast-moving stinging insects. - **Tree Tunneling:** Red-belted Clearwing Moth larvae can tunnel deep into fruit trees that helps them safely eat and grow hidden from hungry birds. ## Measurements & details - **Wingspan:** 18-26 mm - **Size:** 10-14 mm - **Lifespan:** 10-20 days - **Flight Speed:** 15 km/h - **Leg Count:** 6 ## Diet & Feeding Adults sip nectar from flowers, while young caterpillars munch on the inner bark of fruit trees. - **Age differences:** Larvae tunnel and feed on tree wood, while adults drink flower nectar. - **Primary Foods:** nectar, phloem, cambium - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eats:** Apple (*Malus domestica*) — larvae tunnel into tree wood - **Eats:** [Pear](https://www.snappit.app/explore/pear) (*Pyrus communis*) — larvae tunnel into tree wood - **Eats:** Wild Cherry (*Prunus avium*) — larvae tunnel into tree wood - **Eaten by:** [Great Tit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-tit) (*Parus major*) — adults and larvae are food for birds ## Traits - [Aerial](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aerial): Aerial creatures spend a significant portion of their lives airborne, utilizing flight for various activities such as hunting, migration, or nesting. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Miniature](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/miniature): Pertaining to species that are significantly smaller than typical or average for their kind. - [Urban Friendly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/urban-friendly): This habitat trait indicates species that can coexist with humans in urban and suburban environments, utilizing man-made structures and green spaces. - [Pollinator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants. ## Collections - [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/insects) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low These moths are harmless and fun to watch, but don’t touch them. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Red-belted Clearwing Moth? Compare resting wing shape, forewing markings, antennae and body build. Small brown moths can hinge on fine details a phone photo can't always catch. Moth Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### What is Red-belted Clearwing Moth's wingspan? 18-26 mm ### How big is Red-belted Clearwing Moth? 10-14 mm ### How long does Red-belted Clearwing Moth live? 10-20 days ### How fast can Red-belted Clearwing Moth fly? 15 km/h ### What does Red-belted Clearwing Moth eat? Adults sip nectar from flowers, while young caterpillars munch on the inner bark of fruit trees. ### Where is Red-belted Clearwing Moth usually found? Gardens ### How does Red-belted Clearwing Moth hunt? Foraging ## More Insects - [Common Eastern Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-eastern-bumble-bee) (*Bombus impatiens*) - [Spotted Lanternfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spotted-lanternfly) (*Lycorma delicatula*) - [Brown-belted Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-belted-bumble-bee) (*Bombus griseocollis*) - [Eastern Carpenter Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-carpenter-bee) (*Xylocopa virginica*) --- Source: [Red-belted Clearwing Moth: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/red-belted-clearwing-moth)