Species Details

ABH: 52.002

BF: 370

Family: Sesiidae

Subfamily: Sesiinae

Taxon: Sesia apiformis

Authority: (Clerck, 1759)

Vernacular: Hornet Moth

Account: Nationally scarce (Nb) in open areas with scattered trees in central and southern England, though also recorded from Durham and north and south Wales; local in Ireland with scattered records from a few eastern and southern counties (MBGBI Vol 2) Day-flying. Mainly recorded in the larval form, but the early stages are difficult to find during the winter months and the species' true distribution remains largely unknown; the use of the HOR pheromone lure is expanding our knowledge of the true distribution of this spectacular insect. Distinguished from the similar Lunar Hornet Moth by the yellow head and tegulae.Larva feeds within wood of Black Poplar and other poplars, over-wintering two or three times.

Accounts provided by and used with the kind permission of Mike Wall, Hampshire County Moth Recorder. These will in due course be gradually replaced with species accounts with a Surrey context.

Wingspan: 33 — 46 mm

Surrey Flight Period: 30 May (2022) — 26 Jul (1996)

The flight period of overwintering adults are not given. See the flight chart below the distribution map.

Foodplant: Populus nigra.

Foodplant accounts are from the HOSTS database — Natural History Museum, London, UK. (CC0).

Status: Least Concern (LC)

UK BAP:

WCA:

Click here to view the full geology map of Surrey.

Verification Grade: 2 — Care needed to identify, an image may be required 🤔
Further Information: https://www.ukmoths.org.uk/species/sesia-apiformis/
Statistics

* Based on adult records only.

Records: 92

Individuals: 507

Earliest Year: 1909

Latest Year: 2024

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