The clearwings are an amazing group of moths.  They mimic various different wasps and are day-flying.  They were previously very under recorded as they do not normally come to light.  The arrival of pheromone lures (you can buy some from ALS) has been a game changer.  This year, I have lured and photographed nine different species in my garden in Abingdon.  The only one missing is the Hornet clearwing (right), although I have trapped this species for both of the last two years.  I think the flight period for this species is over now (particularly with the hot dry weather) and so I am going to publish the nine species found in the garden in 2026.

The red valarian plant, which I introduced to my garden a couple of years ago has self-seeded everywhere.  It is highly attractive to the Hummingbird hawkmoth which I have now seen on three occasions already this year.  On Friday evening, it flew into the house and couldn't find its way out.  This gave me the opportunity to photograph it.  Such a stunning moth, although even more impressive when it is hovering by the flower, feeding using its long proboscis.  The problem is trying to get a photo of it as it moves so quickly!

Four species of emerald so far this year, but only two species at home.  Pictured here are the Common emerald (below), Blotched emerald (right), Small emerald (bottom left) and Large emerald (bottom right). 

The Leopard moth is an annual visitor but never in large numbers.  It normally settled outside the trap.  It has a huge head with 6 black spots set in dense white fluffy hairs that resemble wool.  The spots in close up have a blue iridescence that is spectacular.  The wings have black spots against white scales but the density and type of scale changes to make the wings more transparent towards the tip. This may have evolved to showcase the long abdomen which curls up when threatened.

So far this year, I have trapped eight species of hawk moth.  Seven are regular species, coming every year.  These are the Privet hawk (the larges native moth), Poplar hawk, Eyed hawk, Lime hawk, Pine hawk, Elephant hawk and Small elephant hawk.  The heatwave at the end of May brought be my 2nd and 3rd ever Striped hawkmoth too (see previous blog post).

This clearwing moth is a great mimic of a hornet.  It even moves and behaves like a hornet when disturbed.

Another exciting way to attract moths is to use a pheromone lure.  The Clearwing family of moths are day-flying and are not attracted to light and were thought to be incredibly rare before specific lures were designed to imitate the pheromones emitted by females to attract males.  One that was thought to be extinct in the UK since 1924, until its rediscovery first in Warwickshire in 2021 and then near me in Tubney in 2023, is the Dusky clearwing.  This is an amazing wasp mimic - a brilliant trick to avoid predation!

The very warm weather and southerly winds brought some very interesting moths to the garden.  Of particular note were two Striped hawkmoths (one pictured right) and two Eastern bordered straw moths (below).  Neither breed in this country and the Eastern bordered straw is new for me.

This lovely moth arrived on Monday morning.  the Figure of eighty is aptly named due to the pale motif on the wings that resembles the number '80' (see close up).  

Two beautiful related species from my recent woodland trapping.  The first is a Mocha (left) from oak woods at Bagley Woods near Abingdon and the second (right) is a Birch mocha from the birch wood at Snelsmore Common (BBOWT) near Newbury.

Taking the total garden macro list to 379 species were the arrival of several Red-belted clearwings to the lure and a very special pug that I have admired in books and had on my wishlist for ages.  This Netted pug rocked up at the white wall, attracted by the UV LED (395nm) - a very exciting moment.  I only noticed the spectacular colours on the clearwing antennae, shoulders, legs and tail from the photo - a really magnificent moth.

This moth is so special.  A truly superb mimic of a silver birch twig.  It has evolved the most incredible patterning which makes it look just like a twig.  Even better, it has a flattened head which is coloured to look like a broken stick end and even holds its wings folded in at the back to give the impression of being a broken twig of silver birch.