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
South African Hawkmoth caterpillars Sightings of two of the largest species of Hawkmoth caterpillar to be found in Africa have been received in the last few days. Dirk Kotze came across this Oleander Hawkmoth caterpillar, Daphnis nerii, at Little Falls … Read More
This photo of the caterpillar of Apochima flabellaria was received from Gordon Zammit in Malta. It’s an unusually spiky looking geometrid moth caterpillar with black outlined orange spiracules. Gordon found it feeding on cultivated broad beans not indigenous to Malta. … Read More
Fijian Hawkmoth caterpillars The Hawkmoth Cephonodes armatus is an endemic species to Fiji and The Mariana Islands in the South Pacific Ocean. These photographs of their boldly coloured caterpillars were received from Drew Bristow on Drawaqa Island, Fiji where an … Read More
Despite cold strong north easterlies at the weekend Marsh Fritillary caterpillars were stirring at a site in south west Cornwall. In brief spells of sunshine several webs of larvae appeared on the surface of a sheltered coastal bank. Hopefully there … 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
Black and white striped caterpillar Ask a child to draw a caterpillar and they may well come up with one that looks like this. But these caterpillars with bold black and creamy white stripes, long whispy black tail horn, orange … Read More
This photo of a Silver-striped Hawkmoth caterpillar, Hippotium celerio, was received by email on Christmas Day from Julie Dawson. Julie was in mountains near Frigiliana in Andalusia in Southern Spain walking her dog when – ‘I came across the most … Read More
Cornwall may be buried in winter gales but a touch or warmth is received daily in the form of emailed photos of stunning caterpillars from much warmer climates. In the last few days alone some fascinating photos of caterpillars from … Read More
While enjoying the sunshine at the National Trust managed Kynance Cove on the Lizard this Painted Lady butterfly was warming up on the rocks nearby. There doesn’t seem to have been so many this year although we have found a … Read More
It may be unseasonably mild here in Cornwall but the rain and strong winds don’t exactly inspire one to get out. At times like this thoughts turn to past sunny holidays abroad. One of our most memorable one was to … Read More
This Unarmed Stick-insect,Acanthoxyla inermis, found on the 12th October is only the 2nd in the garden this year. In past years they’ve been found in all parts of the garden and even turned up in first floor bedrooms as winter … Read More
If ever we needed reminding the weather and the seasons change rapidly here in south west Cornwall then the last few days have demonstrated it. This seal and several others were watched leisurely swimming in crystal clear water at West … Read More
Caerleon Cove, Poltesco on the Lizard, Cornwall is managed by the National Trust and one of our favourite places to photograph wildlife. Its diverse surrounding habitat of sea cliffs, heathland and deciduous woodland always seem to provide a good list … Read More
The first migrant Death’s-head Hawkmoth caterpillar (Acherontia atropos), sighting of the year arrived this week from Joanna Turton in Hertfordshire. As is customary it was greeted by a ‘oh, what a pity, why couldn’t it have been in my garden’ … Read More
It seems appropriate that the 500th caterpillar enquiry of the year was for an Elephant Hawk-moth caterpillar, Deilephila elpenor. Ever since the Wildlife Insight website went live, 5 years ago, the Elephant Hawk-moth has been the most commonly enquired about … Read More