Amidst the gloom of plummeting insect populations worldwide news of a species actually expanding its range is always cheering. In our Cornish garden Jersey Tiger moths have now become a common sight in the summer. Increasing numbers of this boldly … Read More
In over 50 years of recording and photographing wildlife I can’t recall there ever being such a dearth of insects. And apparently I’m not alone in finding this. From across the country and highlighted in the recent Springwatch series insect … Read More
The first Holly Blues are out. It’s the earliest of the Blue butterflies and is most frequently seen in flight around trees and along hedgerows. When it does settle, to either feed or rest, it almost invariable does so with … Read More
Still no Small Tortoiseshell or Peacock butterflies in the garden this year. Apart from Red Admirals, which are now recorded in every month, these are the two earliest butterflies normally seen in the garden. Holly Blues, Speckled Woods and a … Read More
No sightings of Orange-tip butterflies in the garden yet this year. However, its not going to be long judging by the development of two chrysalis brought inside from the cool garage where they’d been overwintering. The orange wing tips of … Read More
During the winter the only butterflies seen in the garden have been the occasional Red Admiral. With recent warmer temperatures things at last seem to be stirring. A Comma was seen amongst primroses at Glendurgan gardens on the Helford Estuary. … Read More
This pre overwintering Oak Eggar caterpillar, Lasiocampa quercus, was found in our Cornish garden in early October. A good example of a moth species with larvae that radically alter their appearance as they moult skins and grow. Unrecognisable from the … Read More
Numbers of migrant Clouded Yellow butterflies in south west Cornwall have been low this year. Certainly not a Clouded Yellow Year compared to 2014 when we were lucky to witness the spectacular sight of hundreds in a single field by … Read More
This American Painted Lady butterfly, Vanessa virginiensis, a very rare butterfly for the UK, was recorded and photographed by Rowena Castillo-Nicholls and husband Rob at Nare Head on the Roseland Peninsula in Cornwall on the 20th September. Rowena is a … Read More
In the South West of Cornwall the larvae of the Vapourer Moth that inhabit the moorland regions have yellow setae and pale yellow or pale orange markings. The one featured with unusual bold, rusty orange dorsum markings was recorded by … Read More
Good to see Jersey Tigers again in our garden in South West Cornwall. This will be the third successive breeding year of this spectacular species since they first arrived in the garden as migrants in August 2019. This year the … Read More
Unexpectedly high numbers of Painted Lady butterflies were seen yesterday on a coastal site on the Lizard Peninsula, in South Cornwall. Since the southerly winds that had brought the large numbers of migrant Striped Hawkmoths had been replaced for over … Read More