Moths of North Carolina
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4 NC Records

Osminia ruficornis (Edwards, 1881) - Minute Clearwing

Osminia ruficornisOsminia ruficornisOsminia ruficornis
Taxonomy
Superfamily:
Sesioidea		 Family:
Sesiidae		Subfamily:
Sesiinae		Tribe:
Osminiini		P3 Number:
55a0078		 MONA Number:
2545.00
Comments: North America has 136 or more species in the family Sesiidae, with 37 species found in North Carolina. Many being similar in appearance to one another. Some are significant pests of commercial crops, and almost all are mimics of wasps and hornets.
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Online Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Adults: Eichlin and Duckworth (1988)                                                                                 
Adult Markings: Osminia ruficornis is best identified by its very small size and shiny black to brownish-black abdomen with segments 2, 4, 6 and 7 banded with yellow on the male. The following description of the male is based primarily on that of Eichlin and Duckworth (1988).

The vertex of the head is roughened and has a mixture of brownish-black and yellow scales. The occipital fringe (collar) is yellow dorsally and white laterally, while the front is grayish-black with white laterally. The antenna is bluish-black dorsally and pale orange below, while the labial palp is yellow with some black dorsally. The thorax is brownish-black, with a yellow region that surrounds the base of the forewing. The tibiae and tarsi of the legs are ringed with brownish-black and yellow bands. The forewing is mostly opaque and brownish-black, with varying amount of deep orange dusting basally, in the cell, and just beyond the discal spot. A small hyaline streak is also often evident in the cell and just beyond the discal spot. The hindwing is hyaline except for blackish scales on the wing margins, veins and fringe. The abdomen is blackish with a yellow band on segments 2, 4, 6 and 7. Females are similar to the males but have one less abdominal band near the tip of the abdomen.
Wingspan: 12-14 mm for males; 14-16 mm for females (Engelhardt, 1946).
Forewing Length: 4-7 mm (Eichlin and Duckworth, 1988).
Adult Structural Features: Eichlin and Duckworth (1988) provide descriptions and illustrations of the male and female genitalia.
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Immatures and Development: The larval life history is undocumented.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: Osminia ruficornis has been found at scattered localities in the southeastern US and as disjuncts in southeastern Arizona, extreme southern Texas and portions of Mexico. The range in the eastern US extends from Virginia southward to central Florida and westward to Mississippi, Tennessee, Arkansas, Missouri and northern Kentucky. As of 2024, we have two recent records from Chatham and Johnston counties, as well as two historical records from two adjoining counties.
County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.
Osminia ruficornis
Flight Dates:
 High Mountains (HM) ≥ 4,000 ft.
 Low Mountains (LM) < 4,000 ft.
 Piedmont (Pd)
 Coastal Plain (CP)

Click on graph to enlarge
Flight Comments: The adults have been observed form July through October in the eastern US, with a seasonal peak commonly in August. As of 2024, our two dated records are from late-July and mid-August.
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: The habitats are poorly documented, but this species appears to favor open or fragmented habitats.
Larval Host Plants: The host plants are apparently undocumented, but larvae are suspected of feeding on milkpeas (Galactia spp.) (Bill Taft, pers. comm. to JBS, 2023-03). - View
Observation Methods: The adults are diurnally active and only rarely visit lights. They are typically seen resting on vegetation or nectaring on flowers during the day.
Wikipedia
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: GNR[S2S3]
State Protection: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands.
Comments: This species appears to be rare or uncommon throughout its range. As of 2024, we have only two recent records for North Carolina.

 Photo Gallery for Osminia ruficornis - Minute Clearwing

Photos: 5

Recorded by: Lior S. Carlson, Dean Furbish on 2024-08-17
Johnston Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Lior S. Carlson, Dean Furbish on 2024-08-17
Johnston Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Julie Tuttle on 2018-07-26
Chatham Co.
Comment: Identified by Bill Taft		Recorded by: Julie Tuttle on 2018-07-26
Chatham Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Julie Tuttle on 2018-07-26
Chatham Co.
Comment: