Photo © Stuart Ball

Yellow-legged Clearwing

Synanthedon vespiformis

Checklist Number
52.012 [B&F: 0374]

Verification
Record will normally be accepted but photo evidence may be required - check with CMR if not sure of identity

Classification

Family:Sesiidae
Subfamily:Sesiinae
Genus:Synanthedon
Species:vespiformis
Authority:(Linnaeus, 1761)

Nationally scarce (Nb) in open woodland, parks and hedgerows in central southern England northwards to Yorkshire; occasionally locally common in gardens and on allotments. Probably under-recorded in Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight, where the extent of known records correlate with those areas in which the recording effort is concentrated. Wingspan 17-24 mm. Day-flying, occasionally seen in flight in woodland where oak trees have been felled. 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 in the bark of Oak, Silver Birch, Downy Birch, Wych Elm and English Elm; larval workings may sometimes be found in abundance between the bark and wood of one-year-old oak stumps.

The abundance in each month is indicated as follows:

No records
Very occasional
Irregular
Uncommon
Off-peak, but not unusual
Off-peak, but not unusual
Main flight time
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Adult
Larval

Records by week (adult)

Records by week (larval)