Last year we recorded over 200 Clouded Yellow butterflies in one field in October and the same location had four over the weekend, our first ones of the year.
This is also the same field we had the migrant Crimson Speckled moth last November.
It perhaps isn’t surprising given its sheltered location and mild climate that the Helford Estuary throws up so many surprises.
Many sub tropical species of plants flourish in the world famous gardens located on its south facing shores
And it’s thought that it was in some of the imported southern hemisphere ferns that the eggs of the Unarmed Stick insect first arrived.
These stick insects are now well established in parts of Cornwall including in our own more modest garden in nearby Falmouth.
The one shown was seen at the weekend on holly close to the estuary whilst searching for Holly Blue butterfly eggs.
Butterfly caterpillar galleries
Overwintering Red Admiral caterpillars
Latest caterpillars
Amongst recent caterpillar sightings received have been some interesting American ones including Eastern Tent moth and White Marked Tussock moth. These will be featured soon.
