The sesiid moth can be a severe pest to raspberry and blackberry plantings.
Adult moths are yellowjacket mimics.
Eggs are laid on the undersides of new leaves, with 2-3 eggs per plant. The young larva spins down to the crown, where it overwinters in a hibernaculum. In the spring it tunnels into the cambium. Cracks develop at this site, from which reddish brown frass is produced in April. During the first summer, the larva feeds at the base of new canes, girdling the plant and causing gall formation.