This Jersey Tiger moth caterpillar was a welcome surprise. Not only had it survived the winter as a tiny, 3 mm long caterpillar but it was already 25 mm long and half grown by the time I found it. A … Read More
Some sun at last encouraged several caterpillars to show yesterday at Polly Joke on the north Cornish coast. 3 Scarlet Tiger caterpillars were sunning themselves on nettle leaves, 2 Drinker Moth caterpillars were on bramble leave and 2 Fox moth … Read More
Another overwintering Red Admiral butterfly was feeding on winter flowering heather in our Cornish garden today. This follows two different Red Admirals recorded in January. Even in this mild part of Cornwall it’s unusual to see them flying during the … Read More
The Catalonia region of Spain is well known for having some wonderful butterflies. One of the most beautiful is the stunning Swallowtail Butterfly, Papilio machaon. Lieve De Strooper took this great photo of one feeding on zinnia flowers in her … Read More
These three sightings of very different looking caterpillars were recorded in Germany. A magnificent Goat Moth caterpillar was seen by Eva Almajan near the Krumme Lanke Lake in Berlin. While, in Bavaria, Germany, Normajean Spencer spotted a green form of … Read More
This Giant Swallowtail (Papilio crespontes) butterfly caterpillar, also known as the Orange Dog, was feeding on a Lemon Tree in Bell, Florida. In the United States and many other countries worldwide the caterpillars of several species of Swallowtail butterfly feed … Read More
This scarce, white form of Small Copper Butterfly was photographed on the Lizard Peninsular, Cornwall. It was one of several other Small Coppers nectaring on yarrow, hemp agrimony and fleabane. Earlier in the year Ted Benham sighted a white form … Read More
The twentieth anniversary of National Moth Night takes place over three nights between 26th and 28th September. This year the magnificent Clifden Nonpareil Catacolia fraxini also known as the Blue Underwing, is one of the targeted species. For those unfamiliar … Read More
A Long-tailed Blue butterfly was an unexpected but very welcome recent arrival to our Cornish garden. Being my first Long-tailed Blue in the British Isles I could scarcely believe my eyes when it dived at speed onto a lavender bush … Read More
Anita Smith had a rare but very welcome visitor to her garden in Morayshire, Scotland. This magnificent Death’s-head Hawkmoth was first seen in her neighbours garden and then photographed on a trellis in Anita’s. This long distance flyer is the … Read More
This fascinating caterpillar sighting was made in Guyana, South America. Andrea Stephenson recorded as many as twenty caterpillars known locally as Hairy Worms feeding on her juniper tree. These 2.5 inch long, distinctively marked caterpillars appeared harmless enough but the … Read More
Several species of butterfly appear to be having a very good year in Cornwall. This mating pair of Brown Argus were two of many seen amongst the dunes at Penhale Sands on the North Cornish coast. The first Common Blues … Read More
Our first Holly Blue of the year was seen in the garden on the 26th March. 6th species of the year – only 52 to go! As so often with this species it stopped only briefly giving little opportunity to … Read More
Only another 53 butterfly species to go! This Speckled Wood seen on the 24th March was my 5th butterfly species of the year. Following overwintering butterflies such as Small Tortoiseshell, Peacock, Brimstone and Comma this Speckled Wood was the first … Read More
A trip to Cabilla Wood, near Bodmin in Cornwall at the weekend to photograph Brimstone Butterflies couldn’t have turned out much better considering it’s still only February. To see over 30 of these stunning butterflies on a walk along the … Read More
A February trip to Cabilla Wood, near Bodmin in Cornwall to photograph early Brimstone Butterflies had an unexpected bonus instore. While ‘trying’ to take photos of Brimstones flitting from primrose to primrose in an open glade alongside the River Fowey … Read More
The February sunshine encouraged two overwintering Peacock butterflies to sunbath on the path leading down to Kynance Cove in south west Cornwall. Stunning butterflies in an equally beautiful setting. Another Peacock was seen the following day at Flushing on the … Read More
A Small Tortoiseshell found fluttering in the bathroom is my first butterfly of the year. A welcome sight despite the butterfly having been prematurely aroused from its overwintering slumber by the warmth of the central heating. Without any nectaring sources … Read More
The 1000th identification enquiry of the year arrived at the weekend. Appropriately it was the Vapourer moth caterpillar, Orgyia antigua. A species that for the last 8 years has featured in the top three most frequently enquired about species An … Read More
Weather continues very hot here in Cornwall. On the coast cooling winds are always welcome. At Trevose Headland on the North Atlantic coast several Dark Green Fritillary Butterflies, Argynnis aglaja, were active along the headland. As were several Hummingbird Hawkmoths. … Read More
Many sightings of Gypsy Moth caterpillars have been received in the last few weeks. Gypsy moth information page. In the UK most sightings have been from gardens in London and the south east. Isabella Read sent in the photo shown … Read More
Thousands of large caterpillars everywhere! In the Twentynine Palms region of the US state of California huge numbers of caterpillars appeared last month in residential areas, on roads, fences and open ground. These were the caterpillars of the White-lined Sphinx, … Read More
Amongst the increasing number of moths, butterflies and caterpillar sightings being received from the African continent have been some fascinating records from Zambia. This amazing caterpillar, Pachymeta robusta, also known as the Msasa worm, is one of many sightings received … Read More
The weather may have turned unsettled in south west Cornwall but overwintering Red Admiral butterflies and caterpillars seem to be surviving The occasional Red Admiral butterfly in flight and their caterpillars are now recorded in every month. However, Large White … Read More
Caterpillars on Lichen Some lichen feeding caterpillars are so cryptically well marked that searching for them just by staring moronically for hour upon hour into a hedge is a thankless task. Tell me about it! Thankfully, there is an easier … Read More
Early last year I received a request for a photograph of a Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary butterfly egg. Nothing unusual there, except this enquiry hadn’t come from either a conservation body, the editor of a natural history publication or an educational … Read More
The very mild weather continued here in southwest Cornwall well into late Autumn and early winter. This provided the ideal opportunity to attract more migrant moths to light with the hope of them laying eggs which could then be reared … Read More
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
‘Striking blue caterpillar seen this morning’ If ever a reminder was needed that nature has the potential to surprise then this emailed caterpillar photo from Elizabeth Deas provided it! Different coloured forms of caterpillar are common amongst many broods of … Read More
Since the last news item there have been many fascinating caterpillar sightings from the around the world. Including the first ones received from Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Java and Bulgaria. There have also been many sightings from states all across the US … Read More
This stunning Candy-striped Flatworm, Prostheceraeus vittatus was found while rock pooling near the mouth of the Helford Estuary in Cornwall. The crystal clear water enabled us to take this short video of it moving gracefully around the pool. A truly … Read More
Several Silver-studded Blue butterfly caterpillars (Plebejus argus) were found on Bird’s-foot Trefoil at the weekend in the sand dunes of Penhale in Cornwall. All were of the green form whereas in past years an almost equal number of the brown … 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
This necklace of over wintered Lackey moth eggs was found while searching for larvae beside the South West Coast Path at Porthgwarra , one of the best sea watching places in the extreme south west of Cornwall. The caterpillars had … Read More