A nationally scarce moth found in Lost Valley!
25th August 2011
Yet another exciting find for us here at Heligan, a Yellow-legged Clearwing moth - Synanthedon vespiformis
The Yellow-legged Clearwing is an Nb* Scarce List species and has not been recorded in Cornwall since 1973. With only 7 recorded in this area (VC2) since 1931. Most of these have been recorded in June/July, with only one being in August, so this is a very good record!
Adult clearwings are not often seen in the wild and the majority of the group, including the Yellow-legged, is a nationally scarce species and is primarily distributed over the southern half of England. They fly from May to September depending on location.
Britain’s entire resident clearwing moths fly by day and this Yellow-legged clearwing was no exception. It was found busily feeding on Hemp Agrimony (Eupatorium cannabinum) in Lost Valley in between torrential downpours.
Clearwings are small, fast flying moths that are patterned to mimic wasps and hornets for protection from predators, even their wings are clear unlike typical moths. This probably means that they are often overlooked! The common wasps scientific name is Vespula vulgaris, hence the clearwings name vespiformis; vespi being wasp and formis derived from the Latin word forma meaning form, shape, likeness, figure or appearance.
The larvae feed internally on the wood of Pedunculate/English Oak. We purposefully leave decaying stumps and logs, including Oak lying around to attract and provide a suitable habitat for many species, so the fact that we have recorded this moth on site is fantastic news!
* Nb – species are nationally scarce and have been recorded in 31 – 100 ten kilometre squares in Great Britain.
