Caterpillars on Supermarket produce immediately raise the possibility that they have been imported from a foreign country. So on receiving images of several caterpillars on supermarket mint from Anneli in West Berkshire I was naturally suspicious but also curious. A … Read More
Please see the latest Elephant Hawkmoth species page with complete life cycle photographs and information on this link – the Elephant Hawkmoth The Elephant Hawkmoth and Small Elephant Hawkmoth, two of the most colourful moths to be found in the … Read More
In the last few days the first main influx of Hummingbird Hawk-moths of the year have arrived in the British Isles. These migrant moths are always a delight to watch as they hover at flowers like tiny hummingbirds. A delight, … Read More
During a search for Lackey moth webs at Penhale Sands we came across three small webs containing hundreds of tiny caterpillars. Although too early to be certain of the caterpillars identity, being on Hawthorn suggests they are likely to be … Read More
The Cream-spot Tiger Moth, Arctia villica, caterpillar saved from being run over by traffic on the main Lands End to St Ives link road ( See Cream-spot Tiger Rescue) has emerged from its pupa. At the time it had seemed … Read More
The tiny moth Esperia sulphurella can easily be overlooked or dismissed as a tiny brown moth. With a wingspan of as little as 12mm and an overall brownish colouring this is understandable. However, on taking a closer look, or better … Read More
This Magpie Moth caterpillar abseiled down a silk thread as I was planting a Clematis in the garden. Not only is it one of the most distinctive caterpillars of the large Geometridae family of moths but it is also easily … Read More
Several male Emperor Moths were active during the day at Kennack Sands, on the Lizard. They were flying quickly over the tops of heather searching out the nocturnal females hidden in the vegetation. It always sounds a little odd to … Read More
This Cream-spot Tiger moth caterpillar was about to be run over by cars on the busy St Ives to Lands End coastal road. Having stopped the traffic to rescue it from impending disaster I placed it in a pot with … Read More
This Angle Shades moth emerged from its pupa on the 11th April. The caterpillar was found in the garden on March 8th and brought inside to rear through. Despite being an easily reared species and one that is both common … Read More
An exciting new Cornwall butterfly and moth breeding group has been set up. The main aims of the group are to establish a centre where the methods of breeding native Cornish species of lepidoptera can be learnt and then passed … Read More
Images of two species of hawk moth and a fascinating “white banded” moth arrived last week from friends in Australia’s Northern Territory. I have no doubt this is just a small sample of the amazing moth species attracted to their … Read More
October is often a great time for rare birds in Cornwall but they’re not the only creatures of interest flying. During recent birding trips in the Cornish coastal valley migrant hot spots several male Vapourer moths were seen flying in … Read More
For many British moth enthusiasts the appearance of Black Rustics at light traps in the autumn is a depressing sign that the summer has gone and winter is on its way. The huge moth catches at the height of summer … Read More
The 2012 records of this scarce migrant moth to the British Isles seem to confirm that it is resident in Cornwall. The highlight of our first full years recording moths at a site in Falmouth may have been Cornwall’s first … Read More
The south coast of Britain experienced an unprecedented influx of the migrant Tortrix moth Cydia amplana during the first half of August 2012. With favourable weather systems sucking up warm air off the continent many thousands, probably millions, of this … Read More