52.002 .... B&F 0370
Hornet Moth Sesia apiformis (Clerck, 1759)  
Status .....Once extremely rare, but now seems to be on the increase in Nottinghamshire over recent years. There were formerly just three known sites after being discovered at Nottingham University's Jubilee Campus in 2015 by Jérémie Cauchois, which was the first county record since 1986. Numerous exit holes were subsequently found after the discovery at the base of several Poplar sp (Wright, S.).

The moth has recently been found at the British Geological Survey offices at Keyworth, Staunton Quarry NR, Colwick CP and Stoke Bardolph and is obviously awaiting discovery at other Trent Valley sites. Many thanks to Thomas Shields, who very kindly offered his photographs of the adult to be included here.
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Freshly emerged adult. Photographed by Thomas Shields at Colwick June 2024.
 
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Pupal exuvia on Poplar sp, photographed at Colwick CP June 2024
 
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Emergence holes on Poplar sp, photographed at Nottingham University's Jubilee Campus July 2020
 
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Nottinghamshire (VC56) distribution of Hornet Moth  
 
Entrance to Nottingham University's Jubilee Campus. Hornet Moth exit holes were present around the base of a number of Poplar sp.
 
The records for the Nottinghamshire distribution map are currently provided by the following contributors - Sheila Wright (Nottinghamshire macro moth report 2015). Trevor and Dilys Pendleton. Sheila Wright (Nottinghamshire macro moth report 2020). Sheila Wright (Nottinghamshire macro moth report 2022). Melanie Penson (via Facebook record). Jason Reece. 

You can contribute your own records to help us gain an accurate status of this species in Nottinghamshire. Send an Excel spreadsheet of your records via the 'contact us' link at the top of the homepage.

Updated June 2024

copyright © Trevor and Dilys Pendleton (www.eakringbirds.com) . .
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