With this weeks forecast not looking exactly very nice I decided today was possibly going to be my last to find and capture the last of my Clearwings for the year namely the Six-belted Clearwing and so with crossed fingers and good advice I headed off to Magdellan Hill Down near Winchester.
The sun was shining but it was clear the clouds were building so the moment I reached the top I took out the pheromone.
The sun was shining but it was clear the clouds were building so the moment I reached the top I took out the pheromone.
Magdellan Hill Down - this is just one area of a large site
Beautiful vista from any angle
I was not prepared for what was to happen next having waited 20 minutes at least for a clearwing to come into view if one does at all but in 20 seconds I had 30,yes 30 Clearwing moths circling the pheromone.
The first wave came in like a plane squadron and just kept coming - there are nine in this view
One stopped on the netting and band so its just as well he has probably not seen a female before she must have appeared very unusual
I then had a couple land on vegetation which allowed me to obtain some reasonable shots. One thing was obvious from in flight observations which was that the sizes of the male varied considerably.
52.104 - Six-belted Clearwing - Bembecia ichneumoniformis - ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775)
52.104 - Six-belted Clearwing - Bembecia ichneumoniformis - ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775)
52.104 - Six-belted Clearwing - Bembecia ichneumoniformis - ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775) - such a stunning moth and of course another NFW
The males were going crazy for the supposed female so I put the pheromone away as it didnt feel they deserved to be duped so but eventually as they kept close by I did take it out again and a Knapweed bud which had been behind the pheromone certainly became the thing they had the hots for so I took some shots a put the pheromone away for good.
My conclusion after chasing Clearing Moths this year is they are a mystery,seldom seen but there in the drop of a hat,they are interesting,beautiful and when seen leave you with the feeling you have achieved something special.
I absolutely love them for their beauty,their lifestyle and that the only way you are going to see them normally is by getting off your backside and finding them. I have had tremendous luck,after all how could you anticipate seeing a male Thrift Clearwing only for it to go off,mate and return with his bride in five minutes,that's luck until you realise you created that luck by being in the correct place at the time.
I have already been offered assistance for next year as I'm sure the rest will be very difficult to find but that makes it even more fun,doesn't it?
I would suggest all those interested should buy some pheromones and look for these moths making sure to record numbers with your local BC county recorder.
For the record I bought mine from an lepidoptera supplies company in East Anglia.
My conclusion after chasing Clearing Moths this year is they are a mystery,seldom seen but there in the drop of a hat,they are interesting,beautiful and when seen leave you with the feeling you have achieved something special.
I absolutely love them for their beauty,their lifestyle and that the only way you are going to see them normally is by getting off your backside and finding them. I have had tremendous luck,after all how could you anticipate seeing a male Thrift Clearwing only for it to go off,mate and return with his bride in five minutes,that's luck until you realise you created that luck by being in the correct place at the time.
I have already been offered assistance for next year as I'm sure the rest will be very difficult to find but that makes it even more fun,doesn't it?
I would suggest all those interested should buy some pheromones and look for these moths making sure to record numbers with your local BC county recorder.
For the record I bought mine from an lepidoptera supplies company in East Anglia.
They certainly had the hots for this Knapweed bud adjacent to the pheromone as some shots almost come under the heading of adults only.
Rather frenetic
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