Species Details

ABH: 52.008

BF: 380

Family: Sesiidae

Subfamily: Sesiinae

Taxon: Synanthedon formicaeformis

Authority: (Esper, 1782)

Vernacular: Red-tipped Clearwing

Account: Nationally scarce (Nb) in fens, marshes, river-banks, damp areas, gravel pits and ponds in southern England, northwards to Dumfriesshire, and southern Wales; rare in Ireland Day-flying. The early stages may be sought during the winter months, but synthetic pheromone lures are used to attract males nowadays, and this has led to a marked increase in records of the species in recent years. Larva feeds within stems and wood of Osier, Willow and Sallow.

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: 17 — 19 mm

Surrey Flight Period: 14 May (2025) — 13 Aug (2024)

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

Foodplant: Salix sp. (a sallow), Salix viminalis (Osier).

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-formicaeformis/

Statistics

* Based on adult records only.

Records: 46

Individuals: 53

Earliest Year: 1856

Latest Year: 2025

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