Sesiidae

Photographed in Bandung, W Java.

I have photographed this wonderful creature on five occasions over the last two years. At first I thought it to be some kind of exotic bee, the way it hovered in front of a bloom to feed.

I eventually found a link to a moth that looks identical; Melittia sangaica nipponica, but I think to go to species level would be a bit presumptuous, especially as my reference is so far away in Japan and the validity of the source could not be guaranteed.

Dave

Update - decided to go with Melittia cf sangaica as a safe ID.

Image No5 removed, posted in error (wrong species).

Looks like an excellent match, but ssp nipponica is Paleartic & ssp sangaica is in the Oriental tropics.
The JPmoth website is usually very reliable.

TL Seow:Cheers.

Yes, according to the species name, it should not be in Bandung, but the JP is the only image reference that I have found that came anywhere near this moth.

Should I change the ID to melittia or to the full melittia sangaica nipponica or leave as it is. I don't mind admitting that I am out of my depth here.

Dave

There is very little info available on this Family. Personaly, not a single one of my Sesiidae photos has been identified and I have not been able to find any specialist prepared to attempt ids on photographs only.

Thanks TL and Les.

From what you have both written and the distance to the source country, it is probably best to leave it as sesiidae sp. I will leave the reference to the JPmoth site, to give a lead to anyone researching in future.

Dave

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Vodkaman

Yes, according to the species name, it should not be in Bandung, but the JP is the only image reference that I have found that came anywhere near this moth.

Should I change the ID to melittia or to the full melittia sangaica nipponica or leave as it is. I don't mind admitting that I am out of my depth here.

Dave

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The name Melittia sangaica is probably correct since this species is wide-ranging.

The subspecies (ssp.) or geographical race is incorrect, as ssp nipponica occurs in Japan, nothern China, Korea etc. ie the Paleartic region.

Subspecies sangaica occur from Taiwan to SE Asia & India so this is likely Melittia sangaica sangaica.

You could leave it as Melittia sangaica sangaica, no harm there.
Or, if you prefer as Melittia cf sangaica , meaning it is close to this species & could be it. ( cf= conferus, L. to compare.)

Melittia sangaica sangaica Taiwan,
http://www.boldsystems.org/pics/_w30...1312304936.JPG

TL Seow:cheers:
PS. Pix 5 looks like a different species. Legs not hairy & forewing unmarked.

Most helpful TL. thanks very much for your time and effort.

I like the Melittia cf sangaica idea and will go with that.

Sorry about image 5. I accidentally popped it into the wrong folder. Should have gone in sphingidae. I will try to remove it.

Dave

I agree with Melittia sp. cf. sangaica

great series of photos