The header of the website, featuring the micro moth Olethreutes arcuella

Kent Moth Group

Observe~Record~Submit

Narrow-bordered Bee Hawk-moth

Hemaris tityus

Family: Sphingidae

RES: 69.008 B&F: 1982

Verification Grade (Adult):

This moth may no longer be present in Kent, having suffered a significant decline in recent years. Preferring unimproved grassland, bogs and heaths it has all but disappeared from the South East of England.

It is clearly an easy moth to confuse with Broad-bordered Bee Hawk-moth when seen flying in the daytime but does not alight on flowers to feed (like the Bees they mimic). If netted or seen static the differences are obvious, but the key is to think that if it has thin lines (veins) and less of them then it is Narrow-bordered, and if it has more lines which are thicker then Broad-bordered. There are also differences in the abdomen if seen well. Beware that these two species could potentially be confused with Hummingbird Hawk-moth too, but should be fairly simple if seen well.

Habitat: Unimproved grassland, bogs and heaths

Quick Navigation:

Distribution in Kent

The map below shows the distribution of records of Narrow-bordered Bee Hawk-moth (Hemaris tityus) within Kent. Use the control below to show data for a certain time period. If you've got a dot to add, please submit your records to us. Click here for more information on how to submit data.

Filter by Time Period:AllPre-19501950 - 20002000 - 2022

Phenology

The graph below shows at which time of the year Narrow-bordered Bee Hawk-moth (Hemaris tityus) can be expected to be recorded in Kent. Hover over the graph to see exact figures for each period of the year, and use the controls below to filter by VC and time span:

Filter by VC:AllVC15VC16

Filter by Time Period:AllPre-20002000 - 2022

Photo Gallery

No photos of this species have yet been uploaded.

If you would like to contribute any photographs, please email mothsinkent@gmail.com.

Reporting Rate

The graph below shows how the number of records submitted Narrow-bordered Bee Hawk-moth (Hemaris tityus) to the Kent database has varied since 1950. Hover over the graph to see exact figures for each year, and use the control below to filter by a certain VC.

Filter by VC:AllVC15VC16

External Links

More information about Narrow-bordered Bee Hawk-moth (Hemaris tityus) can be seen on the external pages listed below: