Since the last report more sightings of giant Death’s-head Hawkmoth caterpillars have been received. In south east Cornwall Wendy Zealey recorded the one shown above left on the edge of woodland and Susan Knowles found the beauty shown above right … Read More
An afternoon spent searching amongst the huge expanse of sand dunes at Penhale on the North Cornish Coast was most rewarding. As well as finding the hoped for Grizzled Skippers and Dingy Skippers we came across this pair of magnificent … Read More
A moth from the middle of the South Atlantic An interesting identification query recently arrived from the remote little island of St Helena, in the middle of the South Atlantic. The photo of a green larva (caterpillar) was sent in … Read More
Red Admiral and Silver Y caterpillars overwintering in Cornwall UK Three Red Admiral butterfly caterpillars, Venessa atalanta, and one Silver Y moth caterpillar, Autographa gamma, were found on nettles alongside the Helford Estuary in Cornwall on the 30th of January. … Read More
Several brightly coloured day flying moths have been sighted in recent days. Two Speckled Yellow moths, Pseudopanthera macularia were seen on the South West Coast Path alongside the Helford Estuary. This is a moth that’s often mistaken for a small … Read More
One moth I hadn’t anticipated recording during the winter was the micro Tachystola acroxantha. This adventive species is thought to have been accidentally introduced into Devon on plants imported from Australia in the early 20 century. Now it is a … Read More
Winter is a quiet time for us butterfly and moth enthusiasts with few species on the wing. But it needn’t be so. As part of a survey to improve our knowledge of over wintering butterfly and moths in Cornwall the … Read More
At the weekend during a search for the caterpillars of migrant Clouded Yellow Butterflies in fields beside the Helford Estuary we had a most unexpected surprise! My wife disturbed and identified one of the most colourful and rarest migrants moths … Read More
Southerly winds have brought some rare moths to many parts of the Uk in recent days and in particular to south west Cornwall. John Foster on the Lizard, Cornwall attracted this female Golden Twin-spot, Chrysodeixis chalcites, to light. Commonly found … Read More
The weather continues to be unseasonably warm here in Cornwall and migrant butterflies and moths are still around in good numbers. Hummingbird Hawk-moths are one of the species commonly being seen and the caterpillars and moths that emerged in early … Read More
A Bloxworth Snout, Hypena obsitalis, found hibernating in the garden shed was a new moth species for the garden. This Red Data Book species has only recently colonised parts of the south coast but now looks to have firmly established … Read More
It’s not everyday that I’m invited to see and photograph a moth species new to me. And certainly not one as fascinating as the Sandhill Rustic with its four subspecies, Leechi, knilli, guennee and demuthi, each differing slightly in appearance, … Read More