52.001 BF369a

Raspberry Clearwing Pennisetia hylaeiformis

(Laspeyres, 1801)

This species was first discovered in Britain, in North Herts/ south Cambs. by Jim Reid, who discovered larval workings in raspberry canes he was pruning in his garden, and subsequently found adults in nearby fruit farms.

The species has since also been found in Bedfordshire, where an adult was reared from galls on raspberry stems collected in Charles Baker's garden. Other records will no doubt follow as details of the feeding techniques become more widely known, and pheromone lures are deployed.

In mainland Europe, the moth is fairly widespread, but does not travel long distances, so it is thought that the British examples may have originated from imported raspberry plants.

The larva feeds internally in the stems and is not easy to detect until its second year, when it forms a gall at the base of the stem. Adult moths so far have been noted on the wing and emerging in July.