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Large, wasp-like insect
Tue, Dec 30, 2008 at 2:46 AM
I’ve worked at a summer camp near the Cascade Mountains in Washington for the last three years, and I’ve only seen this kind of insect once. There were two of them on the rocks near the pool, and neither moved at all, even when I went in for a close-up. I was particularly interested because of their size – if I remember right they were about twice the size of the European paper wasps we normally see around here.
Vector
Central Washington

Raspberry Crown Borer

Hi Vector,
This is one of the Wasp Mimic Clearwing Moths in the family Sesiidae.  We believe it is the Raspberry Crown Borer, Pennisetia marginata, also called the Blackberry Crown Borer since it feeds on both plants.  According to BugGuide: “larvae bore inside roots (stock and crown) of blackberry/raspberry (Rubus spp.) “

Raspberry Crown Borers

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