#britishwildlife

hastingsmothman @hastingsmothman@mastodon.green · 4d ago

#MothOfTheDay is POPLAR KITTEN (left and top right) Fircula bifida Similar to Sallow Kitten (bottom right). Differences - Poplar Kitten much larger (1.5 x size), less bold contrasting features & central dark band has straighter, smoother outer edge. Sallow band edge more scalloped. #moths #moth #mothsandbutterflies #butterflies #MothsMatter #nature #wildlife #britishwildlife #lepidoptera #entomology #insect #cute #garden #summer #august #conservation #biodiversity #alttext #science #educate

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hastingsmothman @hastingsmothman@mastodon.green · Aug 07, 2026

#MothOfTheDay - if Mothman did adult movies, this would surely be my name ... DUSKY THORN Ennomos fuscantaria For me, this autumnal leaf mimic is the first real sign of the beginning of the end of #summer. Larval foodplant is ash. #moths #moth #mothsandbutterflies #butterflies #MothsMatter #nature #wildlife #britishwildlife #lepidoptera #entomology #insect #cute #garden #summer #august #conservation #biodiversity #alttext #science #educate

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hastingsmothman @hastingsmothman@mastodon.green · Jul 31, 2026

#MothOfTheDay is a bit of a controversial one. Larvae can strip oak trees and cause terrible skin / breathing problems if handled. Yet the moth itself (completely non-toxic) is quite neat and pretty. OAK PROCESSIONARY Thaumetopoea processionea As always, recorded for official use. #moths #moth #mothsandbutterflies #butterflies #MothsMatter #nature #wildlife #britishwildlife #lepidoptera #entomology #insect #cute #garden #summer #july #conservation #biodiversity #alttext #science #educate

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hastingsmothman @hastingsmothman@mastodon.green · Jul 29, 2026

#MothOfTheDay is one of the 'kitten' moths. I prefer the slightly bolder-looking Alder Kitten, but this is the next best ... SALLOW KITTEN Furcula furcula As its name suggests, the larvae feed on sallows, as well as poplars. #moths #moth #mothsandbutterflies #butterflies #MothsMatter #nature #wildlife #britishwildlife #lepidoptera #entomology #insect #cute #garden #summer #july #conservation #biodiversity #alttext #science #educate

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hastingsmothman @hastingsmothman@mastodon.green · Jul 27, 2026

Not a moth post. An odonata post. Lots of dragonflies circling our coastal mid-terrace Victorian garden with functional wildlife pond and nature friendly accessories ... for the discerning fauna out there. No riff-raff. A female MIGRANT HAWKER Aeshna mixta taking a break on our almond tree. #nature #wildlife #odonata #dragonfly #garden #summer #hastings #britishwildlife #insect #entomology #alttext

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hastingsmothman @hastingsmothman@mastodon.green · Jul 25, 2026

#MothOfTheDay is PEBBLE HOOK-TIP Drepana falcataria A common and largest of the hook-tip family, albeit still only about 2-3cm across. A flattie, so not chunky. Larvae feed on birch. #moths #moth #mothsandbutterflies #butterflies #MothsMatter #nature #wildlife #britishwildlife #lepidoptera #entomology #insect #cute #garden #summer #july #conservation #biodiversity #alttext #science #educate

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hastingsmothman @hastingsmothman@mastodon.green · Jul 24, 2026

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#MothOfTheDay is the GYPSY MOTH Lymantria dispar dispar This is a male. Females are white and do not fly, and barely move from the cocoon area. Small colonies in the UK but most are immigrants from mainland European continent. I had three visitors last night. #moths #moth #mothsandbutterflies #butterflies #MothsMatter #nature #wildlife #britishwildlife #lepidoptera #entomology #insect #cute #garden #summer #july #conservation #biodiversity #alttext #science #educate

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hastingsmothman @hastingsmothman@mastodon.green · Jul 23, 2026

#MothOfTheDay is the rather striking LEOPARD MOTH Zeuzera pyrina A first ever visit to my garden last night, so nice surprise for me. Reasonably common across the UK. Larvae feed inside the twigs and branches of various plants, particularly apple, pear, quince etc #moths #moth #mothsandbutterflies #butterflies #MothsMatter #nature #wildlife #britishwildlife #lepidoptera #entomology #insect #cute #garden #summer #july #conservation #biodiversity #alttext #science #educate #black #white

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hastingsmothman @hastingsmothman@mastodon.green · Jul 20, 2026

Slim pickings on the #Moth front last night after a week away and sudden drop in night-time temps. This peachy little thing is: ROSY FOOTMAN Miltochrista miniata Caterpillars feed off lichen and the moth itself is classed as local, so not very widespread. Southern coastal counties see most. #moths #mothsandbutterflies #butterflies #MothsMatter #nature #wildlife #britishwildlife #lepidoptera #entomology #insect #cute #garden #summer #july #conservation #biodiversity #alttext #science #educate

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hastingsmothman @hastingsmothman@mastodon.green · Jul 09, 2026

#MothOfTheDay is OAK EGGAR Lasiocampa quercus Name comes from its acorn-shaped cocoon. Larvae actually feed on heathers, brambles and hawthorns. BONUS PICTURE - just for fun, 11 of the 14 Elephant Hawk-moths to pay a visit last night. Three were photo-shy and flew off. #moths #moth #mothsandbutterflies #butterflies #MothsMatter #nature #wildlife #britishwildlife #lepidoptera #entomology #insect #cute #garden #yellow #summer #july #conservation #biodiversity #alttext #science #educate

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hastingsmothman @hastingsmothman@mastodon.green · Jul 07, 2026

#MothOfTheDay is another of the 'Thorn' leaf mimics. Initially on a wire, I thought it was a leaf, until close inspection revealed: LUNAR THORN Selenia lunularia Named after the white lunar markings on its wings. #moths #moth #mothsandbutterflies #butterflies #MothsMatter #nature #wildlife #britishwildlife #lepidoptera #entomology #insect #cute #garden #yellow #summer #july #conservation #biodiversity #alttext #science #educate

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hastingsmothman @hastingsmothman@mastodon.green · Jul 06, 2026

#MothOfTheDay is another one 'in the buff'. Last week, Buff Arches, today, the creamy custard of: BUFF ERMIME Spilosoma lutea Larvae are not fussy and will munch on a variety of herbaceous shrubs and trees. #moths #moth #mothsandbutterflies #butterflies #MothsMatter #nature #wildlife #britishwildlife #lepidoptera #entomology #insect #cute #garden #yellow #summer #july #conservation #biodiversity #alttext #science #educate

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hastingsmothman @hastingsmothman@mastodon.green · Jul 05, 2026

#MothOfTheDay is from a busy night in the moth box ... and some nice ones to choose from saved for another day. Today I've gone for BORDERED BEAUTY Epione repandaria More fond of marshy, woodland areas, so not a frequent visitor to the garden. Larvae feed on sallows #moths #moth #mothsandbutterflies #butterflies #MothsMatter #nature #wildlife #britishwildlife #lepidoptera #entomology #insect #cute #garden #summer #July #conservation #biodiversity #alttext #science #educate

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hastingsmothman @hastingsmothman@mastodon.green · Jun 30, 2026

#MothOfTheDay is a first appearance in 2026 of BUFF ARCHES Habrosyne pyritoides Unusual looking moth that appears at first glance to have a chunk taken out of its middle. But it's an optical illusion of colour. Two specimens from the same evening here. #moths #moth #mothsandbutterflies #butterflies #MothsMatter #nature #wildlife #britishwildlife #lepidoptera #entomology #insect #cute #garden #summer #June #conservation #biodiversity #alttext #science #educate

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hastingsmothman @hastingsmothman@mastodon.green · Jun 29, 2026

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#MothOfTheDay is from the family geometridae. A local, priority species under the UK BAP scheme, so not rare as such, but a watch being kept SMALL EMERALD Hemistola chrysoprasaria A pretty, #green moth whose larvae feed on Traveller's Joy. #moths #moth #mothsandbutterflies #butterflies #MothsMatter #nature #wildlife #britishwildlife #lepidoptera #entomology #insect #cute #garden #summer #June #conservation #biodiversity #alttext #science #educate

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hastingsmothman @hastingsmothman@mastodon.green · Jun 25, 2026

#MothOfTheDay is a pleasingly neat and handsome species: BLACK ARCHES Lymantria monacha A local species and not very widely distributed across the UK. Larvae feed primarily on pedunculate and sessile oaks. #moths #moth #mothsandbutterflies #butterflies #MothsMatter #nature #wildlife #britishwildlife #lepidoptera #entomology #insect #cute #garden #summer #June #conservation #biodiversity #alttext #science #educate #black #white

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hastingsmothman @hastingsmothman@mastodon.green · Jun 20, 2026

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#MothOfTheDay 🎵 It's time to play the music It's time to light the lights It's time to meet the Muppet moth On the Muppet Moth Show tonight🎵 They're back. ELEPHANT HAWK-MOTH Deilephila elpenor Two visitors last night, and arguably our most colourful large moth. #moths #moth #mothsandbutterflies #butterflies #MothsMatter #nature #wildlife #britishwildlife #lepidoptera #entomology #insect #cute #garden #spring #June #conservation #biodiversity #alttext #pink #green #Muppets

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hastingsmothman @hastingsmothman@mastodon.green · Jun 19, 2026

#MothOfTheDay did not hang around long. An attempted prize off the egg box and he was off into the nearest tree. SWALLOW-TAILED Ourapteryx sambucaria One of our largest geometers (flat moths!) Common, but rather flighty nightflyers. Larvae primarily feed on ivy. #moths #moth #mothsandbutterflies #butterflies #MothsMatter #nature #wildlife #britishwildlife #lepidoptera #entomology #insect #cute #garden #spring #June #conservation #biodiversity #alttext