The adults are occasionally seen resting on tree trunks in the early morning. The caterpillars feed inside the trunk of the tree from August to the following May, overwintering as part-grown larvae.

Size and Family

  • Family – Clearwing moths (Sesiidae)
  • Small Sized
  • Wingspan Range – 18-22mm

Conservation status

  • UK BAP: Not listed
  • Nationally Scarce B

Caterpillar Food Plants

Willows including Goat Willow (Salix caprea), Grey Willow (Salix cinerea) and Creeping Willow (Salix repens).

Habitat

Woodland, riverbanks, flooded gravel pits and ponds where willows grow in damp conditions

Distribution

  • Countries – England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland
  • Well distributed in England north to Northumberland although less frequent in the west. Also reported in Glamorgan in Wales, Dumfries-shire in Scotland and Alderney on the Channel Islands, with scattered records in Ireland.
Red-tipped Clearwing - Iain Leach

Red-tipped Clearwing

Red-tipped Clearwing - Iain Leach

Red-tipped Clearwing

Red-tipped Clearwing - Iain Leach

Red-tipped Clearwing

Red-tipped Clearwing - Iain Leach

Red-tipped Clearwing

Red-tipped Clearwing - Iain Leach

Red-tipped Clearwing

Red-tipped Clearwing - Iain Leach

Red-tipped Clearwing

Red-tipped Clearwing - Iain Leach

Red-tipped Clearwing

Red-tipped Clearwing - Koen Thonissen

Red-tipped Clearwing

Red-tipped Clearwing - Koen Thonissen

Red-tipped Clearwing

Red-tipped Clearwing

Red-tipped Clearwing