Species Details

ABH: 52.013

BF: 373

Family: Sesiidae

Subfamily: Sesiinae

Taxon: Synanthedon tipuliformis

=Synanthedon salmachus

Authority: (Clerck, 1759)

Vernacular: Currant Clearwing

Account: Nationally scarce (Nb) in gardens, farmland, market gardens and allotments in southern England northwards to Aberdeenshire, and north and south Wales (MBGBI Vol 2) Day-flying, the moth flying in sunshine over currant bushes Ribes. The early stages may be sought during the winter months, but synthetic pheromone lures are now 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 of Black Currant, Red Currant and Gooseberry.

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 — 20 mm

Surrey Flight Period: 20 May (2025) — 9 Jul (1900)

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

Foodplant: Ribes nigrum (Black Currant), Ribes rubrum (Red Currant).

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-tipuliformis/

Statistics

* Based on adult records only.

Records: 45

Individuals: 33

Earliest Year: 1889

Latest Year: 2025

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