– 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.
*** Last updated on 2 October 2025 by RP ***
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
Distribution Map for Sesia bembeciformis
Found 56 records
↳ 5 from After 2025
↳ 17 from 2020 - 2024
↳ 34 from Before 2020
↳ 5 from After 2025
↳ 17 from 2020 - 2024
↳ 34 from Before 2020
If the Map Layers function fails, just refresh the page and it should be OK after. Use the +- zoom on the top left, or on a tablet, use two fingers to zoom. Remember, the last layer you ticked is the one which displays the popup information - they sit on top of each other - de-select then re-select, to see the popup values.
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
⚠️ Please wait for the map to load fully – do not click the link shown.
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%
CUSUM Analysis: Sesia bembeciformis
About this chart: CUSUM (Cumulative Sum) charts track long-term trends in moth populations [ filtered by 'Adult' and 'Mine' life stages ] by showing whether each year’s counts are above or below the historical average. Even small shifts build up over time, making trends of growth, stability, or decline easier to see. CUSUM highlights trend-consistency — asking: “Across the years, have moth counts mostly stayed above or below average?”
The data sample has 17 gap year/s here (zero records) between 2000 and 2025. The moth may have been present in those gap years, but no data was available. Too many year-gaps may exaggerate or skew the chart.
Counts for the current year (2025) are pro-rated based on data available up to month 8 (August) to provide a full-year equivalent.
ⓘ
Purple line rises = years better than average; falls = years worse than average.
Peak (best year)
Trough (worst year)
Growth periods
Decline periods
Population peaked around 2025, reaching above average levels. The lowest population point occurred near 2022, showing a significant decline.
What the Y-axis "Cumulative Deviation" means: Cumulative Deviation shows the running total of how each year’s moth population count differs from the long-term average. i
Hectad (10kmx10km) Coverage: Sesia bembeciformis
( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )
Flight Periods – Indicative –vs– Recorded Data
Sesia bembeciformis
Sesia bembeciformis
( data includes Adult Stage only )
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 2020-2025.
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 | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quarndon, Derbyshire | SK34F | 08/07/2025 | 1 | adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| upper cromford garden | SK25Y | 12/06/2025 | 1 | adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| Park Head. | SK35M | 21/06/2025 | 1 | adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| Longdendale, Wildboar Clough Woodland | SK09U | 18/06/2025 | 2 | adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| Cown Edge Farm marsh | SK09A | 30/06/2025 | 4 | adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| Rowsley, Derbyshire | SK26L | 14/07/2024 | 1 | Adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| upper cromford garden | SK25Y | 22/07/2024 | 1 | adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| Park Head, Crich. | SK35M | 31/07/2024 | 1 | adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| Glossop, Gnat Hole | SK09G | 08/07/2024 | 1 | adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| Glossop, Hague Street | SK09G | 08/07/2024 | 1 | adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| upper cromford garden | SK25Y | 21/06/2024 | 1 | adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| Poolsbrook caravan site, Staveley, Derbys. | SK47G | 26/06/2024 | 2 | adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| Hilton Gravel Pits | SK23K | 06/03/2024 | 4 | mine (empty) | vc57_irecords_extract |
| Hilton Gravel Pits | SK23K | 05/07/2023 | 1 | adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| Glossop, Hague Street | SK09G | 07/07/2023 | 6 | adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| Derbyshire, England, United Kingdom | SK07M | 08/07/2022 | 1 | Adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| Buxton SK, UK | SK07S | 12/07/2022 | 1 | Adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| Derbyshire, UK | SK07T | 19/07/2022 | 1 | Adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| Derbyshire, UK | SK07M | 14/07/2022 | 1 | Adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| Havercroft Road | SK38L | 08/07/2021 | 1 | Adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| Hilton Gravel Pits NR | SK23K | 14/07/2020 | 1 | adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| Derbyshire, UK | SK07M | 13/07/2020 | 1 | Adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| Belper (George St) | SK34P | 09/07/2012 | 1 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Yorkshire Bridge Villas,Bamford | SK28C | 18/07/2009 | 1 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Carsington Resr area | SK25L | 07/03/2008 | 1 | Larval Feeding Signs | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Carsington Resr area | SK25L | 04/02/2006 | 1 | Larval Feeding Signs | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Carsington Resr area | SK25K | 16/02/2006 | 1 | Larval Feeding Signs | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Cavendish Park, Matlock | SK36A | 10/07/2001 | 1 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Glapwell (Railway Branch Line) | SK46U | 01/12/1994 | 1 | Larval Feeding Signs | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Glapwell (Railway Branch Line) | SK46U | 01/12/1994 | 1 | Larval Mine | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Poolsbrook | SK47G | 18/05/1993 | 1 | Larval Feeding Signs | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Poolsbrook | SK47G | 18/05/1993 | 1 | Larval Mine | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Beighton (Staveley Trail) | SK47N | 19/04/1993 | 1 | Larval Feeding Signs | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Renishaw | SK47P | 19/04/1993 | 1 | Larval Feeding Signs | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Beighton (Staveley Trail) | SK47N | 19/04/1993 | 1 | Larval Mine | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Renishaw | SK47P | 19/04/1993 | 1 | Larval Mine | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Chesterfield, (Chesterfield Canal) | SK37W | 17/03/1993 | 1 | Larval Feeding Signs | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Chesterfield, (Chesterfield Canal) | SK37W | 17/03/1993 | 1 | Larval Mine | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Bramley Vale, Glapwell | SK46T | 18/01/1993 | 1 | Larval Feeding Signs | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Bramley Vale, Glapwell | SK46T | 18/01/1993 | 1 | Larval Mine | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Sleetmore Lane, Swanwick, Alfreton | SK45B | 19/06/1992 | 11 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Sleetmore Lane, Swanwick, Alfreton | SK45B | 19/06/1992 | 11 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Wilmot St, Sawley, Long Eaton | SK43R | 12/04/1988 | 1 | Larvae | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Wilmot St, Sawley, Long Eaton | SK43R | 10/05/1987 | 1 | Larvae | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Alvaston, Derby | SK33X | 01/06/1983 | 1 | Pupae | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Osbourne's Pond, Shipley Park, Ilkeston | SK44H | 27/01/1982 | 2 | Larval Feeding Signs | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Norton, Sheffield | SK38R | 15/07/1969 | 1 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Norton, Sheffield | SK38R | 20/07/1968 | 1 | Pupae | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Hunger Hill, Holy Moor | SK36I | 22/07/1968 | 2 | Pupae | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Norton, Sheffield | SK38R | 22/07/1968 | 2 | Pupae | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Slagmill Plantation,Beeley Moor | SK36E | 21/04/1968 | 1 | Larvae | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Norton (site not precise), Sheffield | SK38R | 30/04/1966 | 1 | Larvae | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Chellaston, Derby (site not precise) | SK33Q | 01/07/1895 | 1 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Chellaston, Derby (site not precise) | SK33Q | 01/07/1895 | 1 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Little Eaton, Derby (site not precise) | SK34Q | 01/01/1885 | 1 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Little Eaton, Derby (site not precise) | SK34Q | 01/01/1885 | 1 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |