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Narrow-bordered Bee Hawk-moth
Scientific nameHemaris tityus
A bumble-bee mimic. Flies by day from mid April in some seasons to July.
Can be seen feeding at flowers, such as Bugle, louseworts and Marsh Thistle. Can be confused with the Broad-bordered Bee Hawk-moth (H. fuciformis), although that species has broader bands on the outer edges of the wings, in particular on the hindwing.
Narrow-bordered Bee Hawk-moth has two blackish bands on the abdomen, obscured by golden hairs, although these can wear off with time making the bands appear more extensive. The large bee fly (Bombylius major) is smaller than either of the bee hawk-moths and has the proboscis (tongue) forward-pointing.
Size and Family
- Family – Hawk-moths (Sphingids)
- Medium Sized
- Wing Span Range (male to female) - 41-46mm
Conservation status
- UK BAPPriority Species
- Nationally Scarce
Caterpillar Description
Overwinters as a pupa, the larva feeding from late April until mid August, depending on season and location.
Particular Caterpillar Food Plants
Devil's-bit Scabious (Succisa pratensis), sometimes Small Scabious (S. columbaria) and Field Scabious (Knautia arvensis)
Distribution
- Countries – England, Wales, Scotland, Ireland
- Southern and south-western England, very local in the West Midlands, East Anglia and parts of Wales. More widely distributed in Scotland and parts of Northern Ireland.
- Distribution Trend Since 1970’s = BritainSuspected stable
Habitat
Unimproved grassland, such as damp pasture and chalk downland.