Clearwing Moth
Day-flying moths with transparent wings that mimic wasps and bees. Pollinators of wildflowers, active in sunshine and easily mistaken for small wasps.
Why you want them
Clearwing moths are harmless Batesian mimics - they have evolved wasp-like markings for protection but have no sting. They are day-active pollinators that visit open flowers and play a supporting role alongside bees and hoverflies. Because they are uncommon and rarely cause damage, their presence in a garden is a sign of good ecological diversity. Their larvae live inside plant stems and woody roots, causing no surface-visible damage.
How to attract them
- Wild carrot
- Knapweed
- Bramble flower
- Scabious
- Goldenrod
- Marjoram
Preferred habitat
Warm, open woodland edges, scrub, and hedgerows. Adults bask in warm sun and visit flowers at mid-day. Larvae develop slowly inside plant material over two or more years.
What harms them
Loss of old woody shrubs and plants that larvae require, pesticide use, and habitat fragmentation.
Garden, by Willowbottom works with nature, not against it. Support your garden allies and they will do most of the hard work for you.