Sesiidae

52.004 Dusky Clearwing Paranthrene tabaniformis (Rottemburg, 1775)

Recolonised / Immigrant

Similar species:

Forewing: 14mm

Habitats: Woodland, but could be wherever the host plants are present, including coastal sites in mainland Europe.

Habits: The moth is diurnal and the males respond well to pheromone lures.

Foodplant: The larva feeds on Aspen or poplars. In France the larva overwinters within a twig gall of the longhorn beetle Saperda populinea. It then moves along the twig and forms its own more elongated and tapered gall where it overwinters again before pupating the following May. Some larvae feed in the roots or under the bark which is where they pupate.

In France it has also been recorded on sallows and Sea Buckthorn.