52.008 BF0380 – Red-tipped clearwing – Synanthedon formicaeformis – (Esper, 1782)
Adult Macro: CAT 2 – Can be confused with other species – Good photographs may be 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: Large Red-belted Clearwing
ID pointers: The moth is fairly straight forward to identify – Notable red patches at the tips of the forewings and a red band around the centre of the abdomen.
Distribution: (Last record: 19 July 2024 at Norton Lees ) – With the increased use of pheromone lures, this species has been recorded more frequently. Several were attracted to pheromone lures at Kings Newton – July 1st & 2nd 2017. Recorded from three sites in 2022 by Melanie Penson during July, with a site near Ilkeston being very productive, with 9 males were attracted using a pheromone lure. In 2023 eight individuals were recorded from three sites.
General Comment: None *** Last updated on 15 January 2026 by TD ***
Males attracted to various pheromone lures
Last Recorded Year: 2024
Last Recorded By – Malcolm Tait
Last Recorded General Area – Norton Lees
Selected Images: Kings Newton, Derbyshire – 1st & 2nd July 2017 – Tony Davison ©
Image Gallery
No gallery images found for this moth.
Temporal Distribution Chart
Adults: (between 1991 - 2025)
(click legend below to show/hide datasets)
This chart summarises all available historical occurrence records collated by ISO week of the year. It reflects recorder effort and sampling distribution as well as true biological activity, and should be interpreted as an indicative pattern of seasonal occurrence rather than a statistically controlled abundance or phenology model.
Distribution Map for Synanthedon formicaeformis
Found 38 records
↳ from 2026+
↳ 27 from 2020 - 2025
↳ 11 from Before 2020
↳ from 2026+
↳ 27 from 2020 - 2025
↳ 11 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 – Synanthedon formicaeformis
⚠️ 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:
Synanthedon formicaeformis
( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )
Monthly Counts By Year:
Synanthedon formicaeformis
( data is based on 'Adult' stage records only )
First/Last Recorded Dates: Synanthedon formicaeformis
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: Synanthedon formicaeformis
( All data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )
Annual Growth Rate (AGR): Synanthedon formicaeformis
AGR: 5.29% | Total % Change: 85.7%
Hectad (10kmx10km) Coverage: Synanthedon formicaeformis
( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )
Flight Periods – Indicative –vs– Recorded Data
Synanthedon formicaeformis
Synanthedon formicaeformis
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 - Synanthedon formicaeformis – 38 records available
Listed by Year - descending - scroll across to see all table columns
| Site Name | Tetrad | Date | Count | Stage | Recorder | Source | RecordKey |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blackwell Trail. | SK45I | 28/06/2025 | 4 | adult | Bradley, Jonathan | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC42765398 |
| Blackwell Trail. | SK45I | 28/06/2025 | 4 | adult | Bradley, Jonathan | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC42765436 |
| Norton Lees, Sheffield | SK38L | 02/06/2025 | 1 | adult | Mella, Pete | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC42008151 |
| Forbes Hole LNR, Long Eaton - S | SK43W | 20/05/2025 | 1 | Adult | Bryce, Marion | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC41701470 |
| Forbes Hole LNR | SK43W | 20/05/2025 | 1 | adult | Bryce, Marion | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC41716551 |
| Markham Vale South Tip , Derbyshire | SK47K | 16/05/2025 | 1 | adult | Morris, Sid | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC41631330 |
| Markham Vale Tip | SK47R | 16/05/2025 | 1 | adult | Penson, Melanie | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC41614353 |
| Havercroft Road | SK38L | 19/07/2024 | 1 | Adult | Tait, Malcolm | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC37631532 |
| Norton Lees, Sheffield, UK | SK38L | 26/06/2024 | 1 | Adult | Mella, Pete | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC36666341 |
| Poolsbrook caravan site, Staveley, Derbys. | SK47G | 25/06/2024 | 3 | adult | Russell Nevin | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC40095220 |
| Pleasley Pit, willows nr visitor centre | SK46X | 10/08/2023 | 5 | adult | Penson, Melanie | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC32304728 |
| Pleasley Pit, willows west of visitor centre | SK46X | 10/08/2023 | 2 | adult | Penson, Melanie | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC32304805 |
| Straws Bridge Pond, Ilkeston | SK44K | 11/07/2023 | 1 | mine (empty) | Penson, Melanie | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC31499120 |
| Aston-on-Trent- Gravel Pits | SK42J | 06/07/2023 | 1 | adult | Frost, Roy | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC35829043 |
| Ogston Reservoir | SK36Q | 24/06/2023 | 1 | adult | Frost, Roy | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC35829035 |
| Cresswell | SK57G | 22/06/2023 | 2 | adult | Frost,Roy | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC35829030 |
| Williamthrope Reservoir | SK46I | 18/06/2023 | 3 | adult | Frost,Roy | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC35829004 |
| Stanton Lagoon | SK43U | 26/07/2022 | 4 | adult | Penson, Melanie | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC27289968 |
| Stanton Lagoon | SK43U | 26/07/2022 | 1 | adult | Penson, Melanie | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC27289996 |
| Stanton Lagoon | SK43U | 26/07/2022 | 4 | adult | Penson, Melanie | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC27290061 |
| Straw Bridge Pond | SK44K | 26/07/2022 | 1 | adult | Penson, Melanie | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC27289751 |
| Peewit Carr | SK44K | 26/07/2022 | 1 | adult | Penson, Melanie | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC27289793 |
| Meersbrook | SK38M | 23/06/2021 | 1 | Adult | Ward, Clare | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC20742842 |
| Norton Lees | SK38L | 13/06/2021 | 1 | adult | Mella, Pete | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC50549015 |
| Heanor and Loscoe, UK | SK44I | 24/07/2020 | 1 | Adult | lucyb_ | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC22372573 |
| Main Street, Kings Newton | SK32Y | 12/07/2020 | 4 | Adult | Soar, Will | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC34063172 |
| Norton Lees | SK38L | 31/05/2020 | 1 | adult | Mella, Pete | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC50549534 |
| Graves Park (Chantreyland Meadow), Sheffield | SK38K | 06/07/2019 | 1 | adult | MELLA, Mr P.J. | Danes_2019-2021 | 1470 |
| Graves Park, Sheffield SGT, United Kingdom | SK38K | 05/07/2019 | 1 | Adult | Mella, Pete | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC10885622 |
| Norton Lees | SK38L | 29/06/2019 | 1 | adult | MELLA, Mr P.J. | Danes_2019-2021 | 1532 |
| Havercroft Road | SK38L | 22/06/2019 | 3 | Adult | Tait, Malcolm | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC36367709 |
| Kings Newton Fields | SK32Y | 02/07/2017 | 2 | Adult | Soar, Will | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC34063174 |
| Main Street, Kings Newton | SK32Y | 01/07/2017 | 1 | Adult | Soar, Will | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC34063173 |
| Friargate, Derby | SK33N | 16/06/2016 | 1 | adult | Plant, Stephen | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC3313294 |
| Friargate, Derby | SK33N | 16/06/2016 | 1 | adult | Plant, Stephen | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC34545958 |
| Hilton NR, Hilton, Burton on Trent | SK23K | 26/07/2013 | 1 | Adult | N.J. Ward | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001OKG3K |
| Willington (meadows), Derby | SK32D | 10/07/1991 | 1 | Adult | D. Whiteley | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001OI12R |
| Willington (meadows), Derby | SK32D | 10/07/1991 | 1 | Adult | D.E. Whiteley | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001WPE8S |