This is another wonderful day-flying moth that can be attracted to a pheromone lure - the lunar hornet moth (Sesia bembeciformis). I was privileged to join Andy Atkinson, our local moth expert, to look for this moth in Gosforth Nature Reserve. It lives in damp areas of willow and sallow so Andy headed for an area of coppiced willow at the edge of the wetland. The lure comes in a small capsule which is inserted into the top of the trap which is then hung on a branch. Male moths are attracted by the scent and may enter the trap or be netted as they fly around it.
In the second spot Andy tried a moth appeared after a few minutes and was expertly netted.
After release it posed for a photo before flying off.
Moments later there was a second moth, slightly smaller than the first.
It also allowed me a photo after release.
The female moth lays her eggs on the willow bark and the larvae burrow into the wood. They spend two years eating willow wood before emerging as adults. Paul Drummond, the reserve warden, showed us a section of coppiced willow containing a lunar hornet tunnel.
This particular larva had not made it to adulthood as it had been predated by a woodpecker.
The lunar hornet moth is one of several similar moths known as "clearwings" that mimic other insects. It looks more like a queen wasp than a hornet and even flies like a wasp, a very convincing example of Batesian mimicry. The adult moth may trick the birds into avoiding it but that obviously doesn't always work for the larvae.
Astonishing that that's a moth! Are the antennae the give-away?
ReplyDeleteI guess so Phil although you would struggle to see them in the field. It is much easier with a photo and a lure. I guess location would be a big clue as these stick to damp willow woodland.
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