Some camouflaged moths caught at light this week. Brussel's Lace Cleorodes lichenaria, Marbled Green Cryphia muralis and my favourite the 'living piece of woodchip' Pale Prominent Pterostoma palpina. Buckfastleigh, Devon
Mike Hetherington
@mikemoths.bsky.social
Moths, birds, herps & other wildlife. My own photos. Dorset, UK or travelling. MSc Biological Recording Dorset Moths https://www.dorsetmoths.co.uk/ Wildlife blog https://vitrealis.blogspot.com/ FSC Associate Tutor RSPB, BTO & ARC volunteer. MCIEEM
Bordered Straw, Scarce Bordered Straw and my first Eastern Bordered Straw last night - West Dorset (VC9). Other migrant species included Olive-tree Pearl, Small Mottled Willow and more. @dorsetmoths.bsky.social @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social @migrantmothuk.bsky.social #TeamMoth
Hummingbird Hawk Macroglossum stellatarum emerged 830 am yesterday 36 days since egg laid 630 pm 17 June at Quince Honey Farm, South Molton, Devon - an amazingly quick life cycle. In this record year the caterpillars are fairly easy to find on Bedstraws growing in sunny spots like walls and dunes.
More about our common migrant moths. Blog at vitrealis.blogspot.com/2026/07/intr... @migrantmothuk.bsky.social @dorsetmoths.bsky.social @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social #teammoth #naturewriting
Introducing Common Migrant Moths (part 2) - the next eight
Small Mottled Willow (above) has probably been Britain's most ubiquitous migrant moth this year. The arrival of 19 more in my trap over the...
vitrealis.blogspot.com
Two colourful additions to the site list this morning: Meal Moth Pyralis farinalis & Bright Straw Agapeta zoegana plus the more dowdy Lesser Wax Moth Achroia grisella (a beehive resident). 284/90 overall. W Dorset, UK. @dorsetmoths.bsky.social @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social #teammoth
White-line Snout was a new #moth species for me here in West Dorset, UK, blown in by strong easterly winds that kept numbers low overall (66/23). Migrant arrivals were Small Mottled Willow (9) and Silver Y (3). @dorsetmoths.bsky.social @migrantmothuk.bsky.social #teammoth
Beautiful Demoiselle and Painted Lady near the River Parrett, Somerset UK. @britishdragonflies.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social
Great to still find Skylarks, Yellowhammers and Linnets on my @btobirds.bsky.social #BreedingBirdsSurvey walk this morning. Also Red Kite new for the square. W Dorset, UK @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social
A watery theme to this morning's #moth trap, with Fen Wainscot new for the site and Bulrush Veneer Calmotropha paludella an unusual visitor. 363/86 in total. Scarlet Tiger and Rosy Tabby Endotricha flammealis added a splash of colour. @dorsetmoths.bsky.social @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social
New blog about about one of Dorset's endangered butterflies: vitrealis.blogspot.com/2026/06/Silv... #naturewriting #butterflies @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social @dorsetwildlife.bsky.social
Silver-studded Blues on the Purbeck Heaths
Male Silver-studded Blue - Scotland Heath, Dorset Britain's resident butterflies can be divided into two main groups - the wider countryside...
vitrealis.blogspot.com
Dark-bordered Pearl (Evergestis limbata) was an exciting new arrival for the garden this morning (West Dorset, UK). First recorded in Britain in 1994, this is a recent colonist and scarce immigrant #moth. @dorsetmoths.bsky.social @migrantmothuk.bsky.social @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social #TeamMoth
An escape to the Scottish Highlands 😊. Beinn Alligin and Liathach - two of the three Torridon classics - seen on the approach to Beinn Dearg. @walkhighlands.co.uk #Munros #Torridon #Scotland
I was pleased to encounter my first Wood (or Heath) Tiger Beetle Cicindela sylvatica on heathland in Dorset's Poole Harbour Basin last week. Scarce and endangered (in the UK) the species is restricted to heathlands from Dorset to Surrey. @colsocbi.bsky.social #beetle #beetles
Purbeck Mason Wasps are one of the most endangered invertebrates in Britain. New blog at: vitrealis.blogspot.com/2026/06/purb... #naturewriting #inverts #wasps #heathlands
Female Sand Lizard basking next to the trail at RSPB Arne, Dorset UK this afternoon. @rspb.bsky.social @arc-trust.bsky.social
Another Ni Moth this morning (Puncknowle, W Dorset) plus a Silver Y - giving the chance for a comparison photo. Two Small Marbled were the best of the rest. @migrantmothuk.bsky.social @dorsetmoths.bsky.social @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social
Another good night for migrant #moths (W Dorset, UK). Highlight was Many Lined plus 3 Small Marbled, 1 Rush Veneer, an amazing 86 Small Mottled Willow, 2 Silver Y, 4 Rusty-dot Pearl and 15 Diamond-back Moths. @migrantmothuk.bsky.social @dorsetmoths.bsky.social @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social
Dorset Moths website update: the 2024 macro-moth records for the county have now been added to the site - www.dorsetmoths.co.uk @dorsetmoths.bsky.social @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social
Some showy new #moth arrivals for the year this morning (West Dorset, UK): Cream-spot Tiger and a trio of hawk-moths (Privet, Elephant and Lime). @dorsetmoths.bsky.social @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social #TeamMoth
Ni Moth (new for the site) was the migrant highlight at Puncknowle, W Dorset this morning. Also Silver-spotted Veneer (E ocellea) 2, Small Mottled Willow 15, Rusty-dot Pearl 6, Rush Veneer 2, Diamond-back Moth 20. @dorsetmoths.bsky.social @migrantmothuk.bsky.social
New to the world of migrant moths? Here's a short introductory blog: vitrealis.blogspot.com/2026/05/intr... @dorsetmoths.bsky.social @migrantmothuk.bsky.social #teammoth
Introducing Common Migrant Moths (part 1) - the Big Seven
It has been a slow start to the year for moth recording, but everything changed last night (22 May 2026) with the arrival of warm air from t...
vitrealis.blogspot.com
Micro-moths are easily overlooked, but they can show some great colours. Here are Hedge Beauty (Alabonia geoffrella) and The Minister (Eulia ministrana) from W Dorset, UK this morning, both new for the year. @dorsetmoths.bsky.social @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social
Decent #migrantmoth arrival at Puncknowle, W Dorset, UK last night: Striped Hawk-moth (3), Vestal (1), Small Mottled Willow (18), Silver-spotted Veneer (1) plus supporting cast of Silver Y, Rush Veneer, Rusty-dot Pearl & Diamond-back Moths. @dorsetmoths.bsky.social @migrantmothuk.bsky.social
One of two Adders seen on Grange Heath, Dorset UK during today's reptile survey (under licence). The brown colour and wider body is characteristic of a female. (The head is attached to the rest of the snake, if you are wondering.) @arc-trust.bsky.social @rspbengland.bsky.social #reptiles #herps
I was surprised to come across this Bordered Straw on heathland in Purbeck, Dorset this afternoon. First I've seen this year. Also a couple of Silver Y and a Painted Lady. #teammoth @dorsetmoths.bsky.social @migrantmothuk.bsky.social
Moth numbers remain low here on a gloomy morning in West Dorset, UK, but a few new arrivals for the year brightened things up: Mullein, Shoulder-striped Wainscot, Silver Y and Yellow-barred Brindle. @dorsetmoths.bsky.social @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social @migrantmothuk.bsky.social #TeamMoth
