Pennisetia marginata, the raspberry crown borer or blackberry clearwing borer, is a moth of the family Sesiidae. The species was first described by Thaddeus William Harris in 1839. It is widespread in the United States, mainly in the east and along the Pacific Coast, ranging north into the southern parts of Canada. It is an introduced species in Hawaii.

Pennisetia marginata
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Sesiidae
Genus: Pennisetia
Species:
P. marginata
Binomial name
Pennisetia marginata
(Harris, 1839)
Synonyms
  • Trochilium marginata Harris, 1839
  • Pennisetia pleciaeformis (Walker, 1856)
  • Pennisetia odyneripennis (Walker, 1856)
  • Aegeria rubi Riley, 1874
  • Pennisetia flavipes (Hulst, 1881)
  • Pennisetia albicoma (Hulst, 1883)
Larva

The wingspan is 20–35 mm. Adults are on wing from July to September and are active during the day.

Adult

The larvae feed on Rubus species. They bore in the rootstock and root crowns of their host plant.

The complete life cycle requires two years in most cases, although some complete in a single year.

edit
  • Anweiler, G. G. (November 4, 2004). "Species Details Pennisetia marginata". University of Alberta Museums. E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum. Retrieved November 11, 2020.
  • Thomas, A. W. (June 19, 2013). "Species Pennisetia marginata - Raspberry Crown Borer - Hodges#2513". BugGuide. Retrieved November 11, 2020.