Six-belted Clearwing
Bembecia ichneumoniformis
This record describes Bembecia ichneumoniformis (species). Recorded family: Sesiidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 15 to 21 mm. It gets its name from the six yellowish bands on the abdomen and has mostly transparent wings, only edged in scales. When adding a record please state whether a pheromone lure was used. Inhabits various locations where the food plants are present, particularly on calcareous soils including chalk downland, quarries and sea-cliffs. The day-flying adults are on the wing between June and August. The foodplants are the bird's-foot trefoils (genus Lotus ) or Kidney Vetch ( Anthyllis vulneraria ), the larvae feeding in the rootstock. Six-belted Clearwing is distributed mainly in the southern half of Britain and was previously believed to be very uncommon. In a recent survey to determine the status of all macro moths in Britain this species 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.
Wikipedia reference for Bembecia ichneumoniformis: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bembecia ichneumoniformis.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Sesioidea
- Family
- Sesiidae (Clearwing Moths)
- Subfamily
- Sesiinae
- Tribe
- Synanthedonini
- Genus
- Bembecia
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Inhabits various locations where the food plants are present, particularly on calcareous soils including chalk downland, quarries and sea-cliffs.
Seasonal Activity
The day-flying adults are on the wing between June and August.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The foodplants are the bird's-foot trefoils (genus
Additional species information
Recorded status
Six-belted Clearwing is distributed mainly in the southern half of Britain and was previously believed to be very uncommon. In a recent survey to determine the status of all macro moths in Britain this species 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 Bembecia ichneumoniformis. 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 Six-belted Clearwing (10)
Frequently Asked Questions About Six-belted Clearwing
What is Six-belted Clearwing?
Six-belted Clearwing (Bembecia ichneumoniformis) is a species in the family Sesiidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Six-belted Clearwing found?
Habitat: Inhabits various locations where the food plants are present, particularly on calcareous soils including chalk downland, quarries and sea-cliffs.
When is Six-belted Clearwing active?
Six-belted Clearwing: seasonal activity - The day-flying adults are on the wing between June and August..
What is the life cycle of a Six-belted Clearwing?
The foodplants are the bird's-foot trefoils (genus