52.003 BF0371 – Lunar Hornet Moth – Sesia bembeciformis – (Hübner, 1806)
Adult Macro: CAT 2 – Can be confused with other species – Good photographs maybe required – 
– click for Adult Macro Verification Guidelines
– click for Adult Macro Verification Guidelines
– Rare / Uncommon / Scarce 
– Day-flying
– care required in the identification process, as confusion with similar species is likely – quality photographs required. Confusion Species: Hornet Moth
ID pointers: Similar to Hornet Moth, but told apart by black head and lacking the yellow tegulae. A Mimic species.
Remains a scarce moth and seldom seen without the use of Pheromone Lure, although the lure only attracts the males. The females are quite spectacular as they are half as big again.
Remains a scarce moth and seldom seen without the use of Pheromone Lure, although the lure only attracts the males. The females are quite spectacular as they are half as big again.
Distribution: (Last record: 12 June 2025 at Cromford ) – Last recorded June 2025 – Locally scarce and infrequently recorded in Derbyshire. Eleven records of 28 adults between 2020 & 2024. It probably occurs at low densities in most Derbyshire river valleys where there are Sallows. Has also frequently been found in Derbyshire in Osier willow.
General Comment: None *** Last updated on 13 January 2026 by TD ***
Last Recorded Year: 2025
Last Recorded By – Clive Ashton
Last Recorded General Area – Cromford
Selected Images: Clive Ashton – Cromford – 22/7/24 / Christian Heintzen © – Glossop – 8th July 2024 / Steve Adams © – Codnor Reservoir, Derbyshire / Cromford (2025) Clive Ashton©
Image Gallery
Temporal Distribution Chart
Adults: (between 1895 - 2025) | Immatures: (between 1966 - 2008)
(click legend below to show/hide datasets)
Distribution Map for Sesia bembeciformis
Found 56 records
↳ from 2026+
↳ 22 from 2020 - 2025
↳ 34 from Before 2020
↳ from 2026+
↳ 22 from 2020 - 2025
↳ 34 from Before 2020
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Bedrock Geology ** indirectly affects moth distribution by influencing the type of habitat and food plants available in an area. In turn, this may affect the types of moths that can thrive, or where they can most likely be found.
NBN Atlas UK Distribution for – Sesia bembeciformis
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Note – the NBN Atlas datasets are listed in the map below and vary in their currency (uptodateness) – however,
the map does give a general indication of the moth's distribution across the UK.
Monthly Records By Year:
Sesia bembeciformis
( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )
Monthly Counts By Year:
Sesia bembeciformis
( data is based on 'Adult' stage records only )
First/Last Recorded Dates: Sesia bembeciformis
Adult-only & Anything [Larvae, Pupae, Adult, Mines]
Shading shows moth presence between dates
Click the colour discs below to Select/De-select as Required
Recordings By Year: Sesia bembeciformis
( All data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )
Annual Growth Rate (AGR): Sesia bembeciformis
AGR: 2.48% | Total % Change: 80%
Hectad (10kmx10km) Coverage: Sesia bembeciformis
( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )
Flight Periods – Indicative –vs– Recorded Data
Sesia bembeciformis
Sesia bembeciformis
Flight Period chart – the grey hatched area above, which can cross one or more months, pictorially represents the best guess we have for this moth's flight periods [month/s]. The coloured lines represent the actual months seen in flight, from site observation records received between 2020-2026.
Records Behind the Map and Charts - Sesia bembeciformis – 56 records available
Listed by Year - descending - scroll across to see all table columns
| Site Name | Tetrad | Date | Count | Stage | Recorder | Source | RecordKey |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quarndon, Derbyshire | SK34F | 08/07/2025 | 1 | adult | Rachael and Dan Iveson-Brown | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC43138825 |
| Cown Edge Farm marsh | SK09A | 30/06/2025 | 4 | adult | Heintzen, Christian | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC43979920 |
| Park Head. | SK35M | 21/06/2025 | 1 | adult | Bradley, Jonathan | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC42512194 |
| Longdendale, Wildboar Clough Woodland | SK09U | 18/06/2025 | 2 | adult | Heintzen, Christian | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC43979500 |
| upper cromford garden | SK25Y | 12/06/2025 | 1 | adult | Ashton, Clive | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC42237512 |
| Park Head, Crich. | SK35M | 31/07/2024 | 1 | adult | Bradley, Jonathan | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC37554834 |
| upper cromford garden | SK25Y | 22/07/2024 | 1 | adult | Ashton, Clive | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC37248672 |
| Rowsley, Derbyshire | SK26L | 14/07/2024 | 1 | Adult | Owen Beaumont | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC37023068 |
| Glossop, Gnat Hole | SK09G | 08/07/2024 | 1 | adult | Heintzen, Christian | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC38130398 |
| Glossop, Hague Street | SK09G | 08/07/2024 | 1 | adult | Heintzen, Christian | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC38130404 |
| Poolsbrook caravan site, Staveley, Derbys. | SK47G | 26/06/2024 | 2 | adult | Russell Nevin | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC40095228 |
| upper cromford garden | SK25Y | 21/06/2024 | 1 | adult | Ashton, Clive | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC36556687 |
| Hilton Gravel Pits | SK23K | 06/03/2024 | 4 | mine (empty) | Penson, Melanie | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC35040349 |
| Glossop, Hague Street | SK09G | 07/07/2023 | 6 | adult | Heintzen, Christian | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC36336562 |
| Hilton Gravel Pits | SK23K | 05/07/2023 | 1 | adult | Penson, Melanie | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC31328784 |
| Derbyshire, UK | SK07T | 19/07/2022 | 1 | Adult | Orridge, Steve | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC28148948 |
| Derbyshire, UK | SK07M | 14/07/2022 | 1 | Adult | Orridge, Steve | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC28759044 |
| Buxton SK, UK | SK07S | 12/07/2022 | 1 | Adult | Orridge, Steve | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC26829412 |
| Derbyshire, England, United Kingdom | SK07M | 08/07/2022 | 1 | Adult | Orridge, Steve | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC26710013 |
| Havercroft Road | SK38L | 08/07/2021 | 1 | Adult | Tait, Malcolm | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC36368244 |
| Hilton Gravel Pits NR | SK23K | 14/07/2020 | 1 | adult | Hartley, Alan | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC15105976 |
| Derbyshire, UK | SK07M | 13/07/2020 | 1 | Adult | Orridge, Steve | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC22350403 |
| Belper (George St) | SK34P | 09/07/2012 | 1 | Adult | K.R. Huston | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001OK985 |
| Yorkshire Bridge Villas,Bamford | SK28C | 18/07/2009 | 1 | Adult | R. Foster | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001OKOXG |
| Carsington Resr area | SK25L | 07/03/2008 | 1 | Larval Feeding Signs | F. Harrison | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001OJJSZ |
| Carsington Resr area | SK25K | 16/02/2006 | 1 | Larval Feeding Signs | F. Harrison | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001OHSEM |
| Carsington Resr area | SK25L | 04/02/2006 | 1 | Larval Feeding Signs | F. Harrison | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001OHSEE |
| Cavendish Park, Matlock | SK36A | 10/07/2001 | 1 | Adult | B.L. Statham | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001OIBSZ |
| Glapwell (Railway Branch Line) | SK46U | 01/12/1994 | 1 | Larval Feeding Signs | F. Harrison | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001OIYNL |
| Glapwell (Railway Branch Line) | SK46U | 01/12/1994 | 1 | Larval Mine | F. Harrison | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001WOX5C |
| Poolsbrook | SK47G | 18/05/1993 | 1 | Larval Feeding Signs | F. Harrison | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001OIWUN |
| Poolsbrook | SK47G | 18/05/1993 | 1 | Larval Mine | F. Harrison | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001WQAIX |
| Beighton (Staveley Trail) | SK47N | 19/04/1993 | 1 | Larval Feeding Signs | F. Harrison | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001OI1O8 |
| Beighton (Staveley Trail) | SK47N | 19/04/1993 | 1 | Larval Mine | F. Harrison | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001WOMWF |
| Renishaw | SK47P | 19/04/1993 | 1 | Larval Feeding Signs | F. Harrison | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001OI1O9 |
| Renishaw | SK47P | 19/04/1993 | 1 | Larval Mine | F. Harrison | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001WOMWG |
| Chesterfield, (Chesterfield Canal) | SK37W | 17/03/1993 | 1 | Larval Feeding Signs | F. Harrison | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001OIWRX |
| Chesterfield, (Chesterfield Canal) | SK37W | 17/03/1993 | 1 | Larval Mine | F. Harrison | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001WQAHF |
| Bramley Vale, Glapwell | SK46T | 18/01/1993 | 1 | Larval Feeding Signs | F. Harrison | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001OIWRC |
| Bramley Vale, Glapwell | SK46T | 18/01/1993 | 1 | Larval Mine | F. Harrison | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001WP07A |
| Sleetmore Lane, Swanwick, Alfreton | SK45B | 19/06/1992 | 11 | Adult | VC57 Derbyshire Recorder | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001OIW32 |
| Sleetmore Lane, Swanwick, Alfreton | SK45B | 19/06/1992 | 11 | Adult | D.G. Gibbs | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001WQAE9 |
| Wilmot St, Sawley, Long Eaton | SK43R | 12/04/1988 | 1 | Larvae | A. Braddock | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001OHZZJ |
| Wilmot St, Sawley, Long Eaton | SK43R | 10/05/1987 | 1 | Larvae | A. Braddock | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001OISKX |
| Alvaston, Derby | SK33X | 01/06/1983 | 1 | Pupae | D.A. Young | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001OHYSD |
| Osbourne's Pond, Shipley Park, Ilkeston | SK44H | 27/01/1982 | 2 | Larval Feeding Signs | A. Braddock | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001OHYER |
| Norton, Sheffield | SK38R | 15/07/1969 | 1 | Adult | VC57 Derbyshire Recorder | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001OIDOP |
| Hunger Hill, Holy Moor | SK36I | 22/07/1968 | 2 | Pupae | VC57 Derbyshire Recorder | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001OIHL1 |
| Norton, Sheffield | SK38R | 22/07/1968 | 2 | Pupae | VC57 Derbyshire Recorder | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001OIHL2 |
| Norton, Sheffield | SK38R | 20/07/1968 | 1 | Pupae | VC57 Derbyshire Recorder | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001OIHKV |
| Slagmill Plantation,Beeley Moor | SK36E | 21/04/1968 | 1 | Larvae | VC57 Derbyshire Recorder | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001OIHI4 |
| Norton (site not precise), Sheffield | SK38R | 30/04/1966 | 1 | Larvae | VC57 Derbyshire Recorder | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001OIHDL |
| Chellaston, Derby (site not precise) | SK33Q | 01/07/1895 | 1 | Adult | VC57 Derbyshire Recorder | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001OLG4K |
| Chellaston, Derby (site not precise) | SK33Q | 01/07/1895 | 1 | Adult | T.H. Sharratt | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001WPRCT |
| Little Eaton, Derby (site not precise) | SK34Q | 01/01/1885 | 1 | Adult | VC57 Derbyshire Recorder | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001OJHG7 |
| Little Eaton, Derby (site not precise) | SK34Q | 01/01/1885 | 1 | Adult | [VC57 Recorder] | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001TAGGX |