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Weird-winged Moths (various families)

In gardens we will see a couple of moths not looking like moths at all. This is usually due to the wings, which are either transparent or divided into small segments. Even though these moths families are not closely related, we'll deal with them on this page, as they are easily recognized as weird-wings. Only problem might be, recognizing these are moths rather than wasps or crane flies. The clearwings are quite well known imitators of dangerous wasps and have transparent wings. Plume moths have wings consisting os five or more parts each. Plume Moths are capable of putting the parts over one another, thus creating a very small wing. Even though Many-Plume Moths have the same wing construction, they are unable putting their parts on top of eachother. They show all parts constantly. On this page you will encounter three families: Clearwings, Many-plume Moths and Plume Moths.

Clicking on "more" in the caption will take you to a page containing much more information on the species and usually more photographs as well.


photograph of Synanthedon vespiformis masc.
Yellow-legged Clearwing, male Synanthedon vespiformis

The legs of this species are entirely yellow indeed. The male has a black tail. more...


Family: Clearwings (Sesiidae)


photograph of Synanthedon vespiformis fem.
Yellow-legged Clearwing, female Synanthedon vespiformis

The female of the Yellow-legged Clearwing has a yellow tail. more...


Family: Clearwings (Sesiidae)


photograph of Currant Borer
Currant Borer Synanthedon tipuliformis

This small species is also known as the Currant Clearwing. The legs are yellow as well, but are showing black rings. more...


Family: Clearwings (Sesiidae)


photograph of Alucita hexadactyla
Twenty-plume Moth Alucita hexadactyla

Umistakable moth, rather looking like a Japanese fan. more...


Family: Many-plumed Moths, aka Blossom Moths (Alucitidae)


photograph of Pterophorus pentadactyla
White Plume Moth Pterophorus pentadactyla

By far the biggest of all entirely white species of Plume Moths. more...


Family: Plume Moths (Pterophoridae)


photograph of Porrittia galactodactyla
Spotted White Plume Porrittia galactodactyla

Showing some small black spots and much smaller than the previous species, this Spotted White Plume is quite rare. more...


Family: Plume Moths (Pterophoridae)


photograph of Amblyptilia acanthadactyla
Beautiful Plume Amblyptilia acanthadactyla

The Beautiful Plume is a well-marked brownish species. more...


Family: Plume Moths (Pterophoridae)


photograph of Stenoptilia pterodactyla
Brown Plume Stenoptilia pterodactyla

Almost unmarked, the Brown Plume is variable in colour. more...


Family: Plume Moths (Pterophoridae)


photograph of Adaina microdactyla
Hemp-agrimony Plume Adaina microdactyla

The Hemp-agrimony Plume is one of the smallest Plume Moths in Britain. more...


Family: Plume Moths (Pterophoridae)


photograph of Emmelina monodactyla
T-Moth Emmelina monodactyla

Probably the T-Moth is the most common Plume Moth in Britain. more...


Family: Plume Moths (Pterophoridae)


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This page has last been modified on Sunday, May 28, 2017.
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