Melittia chalybescens Miskin, 1892 (one synonym is Melittia proserpina Hampson, 1919) SESIINAE,   SESIIDAE,   SESIOIDEA

Don Herbison-Evans (donherbisonevans@yahoo.com) and Stella Crossley

(Photo: courtesy of Alison Pearson, Whitsunday, Queensland)

The adult moths of this species have transparent wings with black margins and veins, with a metallic sheen. The head is black. The thorax is black on top, densely covered with hairs that have a metallic sheen, and white underneath.

(Photo: courtesy of Alison Pearson, Whitsunday, Queensland)

The abdomen is black with narrow white bands on top, and white underneath. There are a large tufts of black hairs on the hindlegs. The wingspan is about 3 cms.

(Photo: courtesy of Alison Pearson, Whitsunday, Queensland)

The species occurs in Australia in

Queensland.

underside
(Photo: courtesy of Alison Pearson, Whitsunday, Queensland)

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Further reading :

William Henry Miskin,
New species of Australian Macro-Lepidoptera (Heterocera),
Proceedings of the Royal Society of Queensland,
Volume 8 (1892), p. 59.

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(written 8 February 2023)