Sesiidae

52.016 Thrift Clearwing Pyropteron muscaeformis (Esper, 1783)

Notable B

Similar species:

Forewing: 6 to 8mm

Habitats: Rocky coastline, coastal grassland, vegetated sea-walls and undercliff.

Habits: The male is attracted to pheromone lures from late morning until early evening. The moth may visit the flowers of Thrift and Wild Thyme in the afternoon.

Foodplant: The larva inhabits the roots and crown of Thrift plants in rock crevices, especially in the splash zone. The larva may be detected by red-brown frass on the plants where the cushion of leaves has partly turned brown. These signs can be mistaken for those caused by the larva of the Tortricoid moth Lobesia littoralis.