Species Details

ABH: 52.007

BF: 381

Family: Sesiidae

Subfamily: Sesiinae

Taxon: Synanthedon culiciformis

Authority: (Linnaeus, 1758)

Vernacular: Large Red-belted Clearwing

Account: Nationally scarce (Nb) in heaths and open woodland in parts of the British Isles Day-flying, the earliest clearwing to emerge in spring. Generally larger than the similar Red-belted Clearwing, the sizes overlap and it can be distinguished by the orange-red suffusion at the base of the forewings and reddish palps.The larva feeds within bark of Silver Birch, Downy Birch and Alder, making characteristic tunnels under the bark of birch trees and stumps.

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: 22 — 25 mm

Surrey Flight Period: 7 May (1995) — 16 Jun (1986)

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

Foodplant: Alnus sp., Betula sp. (a birch).

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: 1 — Relatively easily identified 👌

Further Information: https://www.ukmoths.org.uk/species/synanthedon-culiciformis/

Statistics

* Based on adult records only.

Records: 31

Individuals: 30

Earliest Year: 1887

Latest Year: 2022

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