Western poplar clearwing moth

5714  Photo taken June 25, 2016 in Williams Lake, BC. Thanks for your help in identifying. Debbie.

These are moths in the family Sesiidae; they look like Paranthrene robiniae, known as the western poplar clearwing moth; see http://tinyurl.com/zfrwrfd for some images. Their caterpillars tunnel in the wood of poplars and willows as well as ornamental birches, often in trees already weakened by wood-boring beetles. Many wasps in this family appear to be wasp mimics. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.