Orange-tailed Clearwing
Synanthedon andrenaeformis
This record describes Synanthedon andrenaeformis (species). Recorded family: Sesiidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
When adding a record please state whether a pheromone lure was used. Usually found on chalk downland, preferring the edges of woodland. The adults fly in May and June, but are very difficult to locate unless a lure is used. The larva lives for two years or more, boring into the stems of the Wayfaring-tree and Guelder-rose. This species occurs in central southern England. In a recent survey to determine the status of all macro moths in Britain Orange-tailed Clearwing was classified as Nationally Scarce B, but the introduction of an effective pheromone lure for this species has shown it to be more common than previously thought.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera
- Family
- Sesiidae
- Genus
- Synanthedon
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Usually found on chalk downland, preferring the edges of woodland.
Seasonal Activity
The adults fly in May and June, but are very difficult to locate unless a lure is used.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The larva lives for two years or more, boring into the stems of the Wayfaring-tree and Guelder-rose.
Additional species information
Recorded status
This species occurs in central southern England. In a recent survey to determine the status of all macro moths in Britain Orange-tailed Clearwing was classified as Nationally Scarce B, but the introduction of an effective pheromone lure for this species has shown it to be more common than previously thought.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Synanthedon andrenaeformis. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Lepidoptera includes approximately 180,000 described species of butterflies and moths. Moths outnumber butterflies roughly 10:1. The monarch butterfly's eastern population has declined by more than 80% since the mid-1990s, and the western population by over 95% since the 1980s. The IUCN lists the migratory monarch as Vulnerable.
Ecological role of the group
Butterflies and moths are essential indicators of ecosystem health. As caterpillars, they are a primary food source for birds - a single nest of blue tit chicks requires ~10,000 caterpillars. Adult moths pollinate many night-blooming plants.
Economic and practical significance of the group
Lepidoptera are critical pollinators. In Europe, grassland butterfly species have declined by almost 50% since the early 1990s. In the UK, three-quarters of butterflies are in decline. In the U.S., five butterfly species have gone extinct since 1950, with 29 listed as endangered.
Recorded sources for this group: IUCN Red List, Xerces Society, USFWS, PNAS, WWF. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Orange-tailed Clearwing (4)
Frequently Asked Questions About Orange-tailed Clearwing
What is Orange-tailed Clearwing?
Orange-tailed Clearwing (Synanthedon andrenaeformis) is a species in the family Sesiidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Orange-tailed Clearwing found?
Habitat: Usually found on chalk downland, preferring the edges of woodland.
When is Orange-tailed Clearwing active?
Orange-tailed Clearwing: seasonal activity - The adults fly in May and June, but are very difficult to locate unless a lure is used..
What is the life cycle of a Orange-tailed Clearwing?
The larva lives for two years or more, boring into the stems of the Wayfaring-tree and Guelder-rose.