Fiery Clearwing (Pyropteron chrysidiformis)
Key Details
| Taxonomic Groups: | Invertebrate > insect - moth > Moth |
| Red List Status: | (Not Relevant) [(not listed)(nr)] |
| D5 Status: | |
| Section 41 Status: | (not listed) |
| Taxa Included Synonym: | (none) |
| UKSI Recommended Name: | Pyropteron chrysidiformis |
| UKSI Recommended Authority: | (Esper, 1782) |
| UKSI Recommended Qualifier: | (none specified) |
| Red List Citation: | (not listed) |
| Notes on taxonomy/listing: | (none) |
Criteria
| Question 1: | Does species need conservation or recovery in England? |
| Response: | Yes |
| Justification: | GB Red List (Fox et al. 2019): EN. Schedule 5 W&C Act. No long term monitoring data available but bespoke monitoring shows marked fluctuations and the loss of some sites. |
| Question 2: | Does recovery/ conservation depend on species-specific actions? |
| Response: | Yes |
| Justification: | Management requirements are completely different at sites, depending upon the existing nature of the site. Generalised management will not protect the species. |
| Question 3: | At a landscape scale, would the species benefit from untargeted habitat management to increase habitat mosaics, structural diversity, or particular successional stages? |
| Response: | Yes |
| Justification: | Could possibly benefit from the creation of bare ground / ground disturbance within restricted parts of north and east Kent. |
Species Assessment
| Current step on the Species Recovery Curve (SRC): | 6. Recovery solutions trialled |
| Recovery potential/expectation: | Medium-high |
| National Monitoring Resource: | Combination - sufficient |
| Species Comments: | Colonising some new sites in recent years but most of these only provide a temporary habitat. Coastal erosion threatens a number of the longer term sites. |
Key Actions
Key Action 1
Proposed Action: Clearance of invasive Buddleia at core site in east Kent.
Action targets: 6. Recovery solutions trialled
Action type: Habitat management
Duration: 3-5 years
Scale of Implementation: 1 site
High priority sites: Folkestone Warren
Comments: This used to be the primary site for Fiery Clearwing but has deteriorated considerably due to scrub invasion - particularly by Buddleia. The absence of a strong population in east Kent is severely restricting the species' ability to spread in years with beneficial weather.
Key Action 2
Proposed Action: This species is under increasing pressure due to redevelopment of brownfield sites in Kent where all known colonies occur. Raise awareness of occupied sites with stakeholders to increase protection of this Schedule 5 species.
Action targets: 7. Best approach adopted at appropriate scales
Action type: Advice & support
Duration: >10 years
Scale of Implementation: National
High priority sites:
Comments:
Acknowledgment:
Data used on this website are adapted from Threatened species recovery actions 2025 baseline (JP065): Technical report and spreadsheet user guide (Natural England, 2025). Available here.