The family consists of 165 genera spread over two subfamilies, containing in total 1525 species and 49 subspecies,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> most of which occur in the tropics, though there are many species in the Holarctic region as well, including over a hundred species known to occur in Europe.<ref name="Sesiidae of Europe">Template:Cite book</ref>Template:Rp
Sesiidae are characterized by their hymenopteriformTemplate:EfnBatesian mimicry, frequently of identifiable species.<ref name="Sesiidae of Europe"/>Template:Rp Most species of Sesiidae have wings with areas where scales are nearly completely absent, resulting in partial, marked transparency.<ref name="Sesiidae of Europe"/>Template:Rp Forewings are commonly elongated and narrow in the basal half.<ref name="Sesiidae of Europe"/>Template:Rp In many species, the abdomen is elongated, with an anal tuft, and striped or ringed yellow, red or white,<ref name="Sesiidae of Europe"/>Template:Rp sometimes very brightly so. Legs are long, thin and frequently coloured,<ref name="Sesiidae of Europe"/>Template:Rp and in some species the hind-legs are elongated.<ref name="Sadahisa">Template:Cite journal</ref> In European species, the wing span ranges from 8 to 48 mm.<ref name="Sesiidae of Europe"/>Template:Rp
Larvae lack pigment. Segments of the thorax are somewhat enlarged.<ref name="Sesiidae of Europe"/>Template:Rp
The larvae of the Sesiidae typically bore in wood or burrow in plant roots. Many species are serious pests of fruit-tree or timber cultivation, or crop plants (e.g. Melittia spp. on squash) (Edwards et al., 1999). Larval development lasts 1–4 years, pupal stage 10–20 days.<ref name="Sesiidae of Europe"/>Template:Rp
Adults are diurnally active.<ref name="Sadahisa"/><ref name="Sesiidae of Europe"/>Template:Rp Specimens are commonly collected using pheromone lures.<ref name="Sadahisa"/><ref name="Sesiidae of Europe"/>Template:Rp
Movements, including hovering flight, mimic those of Hymenoptera spp.<ref name="Sesiidae of Europe"/>Template:Rp <ref name='Springer'>Template:Cite book</ref>
Edwards, E.D., Gentili, P., Horak, M., Kristensen, N.P. and Nielsen, E.S. (1999). The cossoid/sesioid assemblage. Ch. 11, pp. 183–185 in Kristensen, N.P. (Ed.). Lepidoptera, Moths and Butterflies. Volume 1: Evolution, Systematics, and Biogeography. Handbuch der Zoologie. Eine Naturgeschichte der Stämme des Tierreiches / Handbook of Zoology. A Natural History of the phyla of the Animal Kingdom. Band / Volume IV Arthropoda: Insecta Teilband / Part 35: 491 pp. Walter de Gruyter, Berlin, New York.
.jpg){kind=link}
