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
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