← Feed

Posts

• Post #4481805

  #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 #educ...

• Post #4425651

  #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

• Post #4268605

  #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

• Post #4186221

  #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

• Post #4137193

  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

• Post #4093018

  Not so much style over substance … as my substance over a stile! Oh, the perils of being short… Mothman loves the countryside. But the countryside doesn’t always love Mothman! #walking #rambling #countryside #nature #meadow #stile #summer #funny

• Post #4082301

  #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

• Post #4056500

  #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

• Post #4029205

  #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

• Post #3952572

  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

• Post #3688623

  #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

• Post #3643216

  #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

• Post #3622130

  #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

• Post #3605419

  #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

• Post #3487464

  #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

• Post #3465940

  #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

• Post #3397496

  #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

• Post #3359223

  #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

• Post #3350487

  #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

• Post #2300026

  #MothOfTheDay - the other day, I had the chunky Great Prominent. Today, the smaller, woodchip cousin called PALE PROMINENT Pterostoma palpina It was on the clematis bark stem and very blended in until my eagle eye spotted him. Very common and larvae feed on sallows #moths #moth #mothsandbutterflies #butterflies #MothsMatter #nature #wildlife #britishwildlife #lepidoptera #entomology #insect #cute #garden #spring #May #conservation #biodiversity #alttext

• Post #2078038

  #MothOfTheDay is a highly coloured micromoth of barely 5mm in length. Looks like a tiny grain of rice until you get close up and personal... WOOD MARBLE Lobesia reliquana Larvae feed on new oak shoots. Two boarded in the moth box overnight. #moths #moth #mothsandbutterflies #butterflies #MothsMatter #nature #wildlife #britishwildlife #lepidoptera #entomology #insect #cute #garden #spring #May #conservation #biodiversity #alttext #colour #marble #mosaic

• Post #2076916

  #MothOfTheDay A real beauty and one of my absolute favourite moths. Introducing: MILLER Acronicta leporina So named as it looks like it's been dusted in milled flour. Larvae feed on deciduous trees. Pretty common in south of UK #moths #moth #mothsandbutterflies #butterflies #MothsMatter #nature #wildlife #britishwildlife #lepidoptera #entomology #insect #cute #garden #spring #May #conservation #biodiversity #alttext

• Post #1834634

  #MothOfTheDay A little warmer last night, but close to a full moon, so lowish expectations. Delighted to get two: GREAT PROMINENT Peridea anceps Large old beast. Larvae feed on oak. #moths #moth #mothsandbutterflies #butterflies #MothsMatter #nature #wildlife #britishwildlife #lepidoptera #entomology #insect #cute #animals #naturalworld #garden #spring #April #conservation #biodiversity #alttext

• Post #1831938

  Still very cold nights and moths are not aplenty. #MothOfTheDay does at least add a little colour to a dull and cloudy Tuesday. First sighting in 2026 of BRIMSTONE Opisthograptis luteolata Extremely common in the UK and larvae feed on Hawthorn and similar #moths #moth #mothsandbutterflies #butterflies #MothsMatter #nature #wildlife #britishwildlife #lepidoptera #entomology #insect #cute #garden #spring #April #conservation #biodiversity #alttext #yellow

• Post #1805500

  #MothOfTheDay is another from the Prominent family IRON PROMINENT Notodonta dromedarius As I was re-positioning it onto my finger for 2nd overhead picture, this one excreted a lymph excretion which some do when feeling threatened. A warning to me not to harm it. Photo taken, he promptly flew away. #moths #moth #mothsandbutterflies #butterflies #MothsMatter #nature #wildlife #britishwildlife #lepidoptera #entomology #insect #cute #garden #summer #conservation #biodiversity #alttext

• Post #1486899

  Today's #MothOfTheDay is a caterpillar on the comfrey in the garden yesterday afternoon SCARLET TIGER Callimorpha dominula The moth picture is what it turns into (taken from my feed from last year) #moths #moth #mothsandbutterflies #butterflies #MothsMatter #nature #wildlife #britishwildlife #lepidoptera #entomology #insect #cute #garden #spring #April #conservation #biodiversity #alttext

• Post #1326978

  Today's #MothOfTheDay is one of the wood mimic moths MULLEIN Cucullia verbasci Often seen in abundance as caterpillars on mullein plants, this is what those multicoloured larvae turn into. #moths #moth #mothsandbutterflies #butterflies #MothsMatter #nature #wildlife #britishwildlife #lepidoptera #entomology #insect #cute #garden #spring #April #conservation #biodiversity #alttext

• Post #1140621

  #MothOfTheDay was the first sighting in 2026 for the furry cloak of NUT-TREE TUSSOCK Colocasia coryli Larvae feed on multiple trees, including Beech, Oak, and probably in this case, next door's Field Maple. A common and well-distributed moth. #moths #moth #mothsandbutterflies #butterflies #MothsMatter #nature #wildlife #britishwildlife #lepidoptera #entomology #insect #cute #garden #spring #April #conservation #biodiversity #alttext

• Post #887127

  #MothOfTheDay is a little spring beauty. Thought I had just the usuals last night, but then this was on the wall nearby STREAMER Anticlea derivata A geometer moth (ie, lies flat against a surface). More flighty and won't sit on fingers like noctuids! Pretty common and larvae feed on dog-rose. #moths #moth #mothsandbutterflies #butterflies #MothsMatter #nature #wildlife #britishwildlife #lepidoptera #entomology #insect #cute #garden #spring #April #conservation #biodiversity #alttext