52.012 BF0374 – Yellow-legged Clearwing – Synanthedon vespiformis – (Linnaeus,1761)
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: Currant Clearwing; Six-belted Clearwing
ID pointers: Yellow and black bands along the abdomen and yellow legs.
Distribution: (Last record: 4 July 2025 at Glossop ) – Nationally Scarce B.
A rare and notable species in Derbyshire and a probable resident.The larvae feed on 2 year old Oak(Quercus) stumps and where the foodplant exists and in the right conditions, it may well be a common species albeit in isolated colonies. Another wasp-mimic so probably overlooked. Easiest way to record is by the use of pheromone lures.
General Comment: None *** Last updated on 15 January 2026 by TD ***
Males come readily to pheromone lures. As with other related species the larvae feed internall on the wood of their preferred food plant. In this cas it is Oak (Quercus) and they prefer two year old tree stummps. Due to precise food requirements, this could be a reason for their scarce status.
Last Recorded Year: 2025
Last Recorded By – Christian Heintzen
Last Recorded General Area – Glossop
Selected Images: Anne Butler © – To VES Lure -Sandiacre – 18th August 2023/ Glossop to VES Lure 4/7/2025 – Christian Heintzen©
Image Gallery
No gallery images found for this moth.
Temporal Distribution Chart
Adults: (between 1998 - 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 vespiformis
Found 18 records
↳ from 2026+
↳ 15 from 2020 - 2025
↳ 3 from Before 2020
↳ from 2026+
↳ 15 from 2020 - 2025
↳ 3 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 – Synanthedon vespiformis
⚠️ 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 vespiformis
( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )
Monthly Counts By Year:
Synanthedon vespiformis
( data is based on 'Adult' stage records only )
First/Last Recorded Dates: Synanthedon vespiformis
Adult-only & Anything [Larvae, Pupae, Adult, Mines]
Shading shows moth presence between dates
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Recordings By Year: Synanthedon vespiformis
( All data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )
Annual Growth Rate (AGR): Synanthedon vespiformis
AGR: -6.53% | Total % Change: -33.3%
Hectad (10kmx10km) Coverage: Synanthedon vespiformis
( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )
Flight Periods – Indicative –vs– Recorded Data
Synanthedon vespiformis
Synanthedon vespiformis
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 vespiformis – 18 records available
Listed by Year - descending - scroll across to see all table columns
| Site Name | Tetrad | Date | Count | Stage | Recorder | Source | RecordKey |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Park Head, Crich. | SK35M | 09/07/2025 | 2 | adult | Bradley, Jonathan | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC43193612 |
| Glossop, Hague Street, Hay Meadow | SK09G | 04/07/2025 | 1 | adult | Heintzen, Christian | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC43979973 |
| Norton Lees, Sheffield | SK38L | 02/06/2025 | 1 | adult | Mella, Pete | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC42009121 |
| Park Head, Crich. | SK35M | 31/07/2024 | 1 | adult | Bradley, Jonathan | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC37554723 |
| upper cromford garden | SK25Y | 28/07/2024 | 1 | adult | Ashton, Clive | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC37478734 |
| Norton Lees, Sheffield, UK | SK38L | 26/06/2024 | 1 | Adult | Mella, Pete | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC36666342 |
| Sandiacre Garden | SK43S | 17/08/2023 | 2 | adult | Butler, Anne | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC32501308 |
| West Hallam Ash Tip | SK44L | 11/07/2023 | 1 | adult | Penson, Melanie | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC31499329 |
| Glossop, Hague Street | SK09G | 07/07/2023 | 1 | adult | Heintzen, Christian | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC36336561 |
| Hague Street, Glossop, England, GB | SK09G | 07/07/2023 | 1 | Adult | willunders50 | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC40072451 |
| Kirk Hallam, Ilkeston | SK44K | 11/06/2023 | 1 | adult | Hobby, Brian | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC48690711 |
| Holmebrook Valley Park, Chesterfield | SK37L | 02/08/2022 | 1 | adult | Peter Calvert | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC27463101 |
| Norton Lees | SK38L | 09/07/2021 | 1 | adult | Mella, Pete | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC50548820 |
| Havercroft Road | SK38L | 17/07/2020 | 1 | Adult | Tait, Malcolm | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC36367997 |
| Norton Lees | SK38L | 02/06/2020 | 1 | adult | Mella, Pete | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC50548634 |
| Norton Lees | SK38L | 30/06/2019 | 1 | adult | MELLA, Mr P.J. | Danes_2019-2021 | 1512 |
| Havercroft Road | SK38L | 22/06/2019 | 3 | Adult | Tait, Malcolm | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC36367710 |
| Stoneley Wood | SK38W | 12/06/1998 | 1 | Adult | Austin Brackenbury | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC28596285 |