Crescent Plume moth . Photo: Mark Pike
Mark disturbed this Crescent Plume form the undergrowth at Tout Quarry on 14/07/24.
Plume moths are so named because when their wings are spread they look like feathers or plumes.
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Striped Hawkmoth. Photo: Phyl England
Phyl must have been very pleased to find this stunning Striped Hawkmoth, a migrant moth in her Swanage trap on 13/04/23.
Its flight season is April- October with the main influxes May-early June and August.
Pretty Chalk Carpet. Photo: Bob Ford
Bob Ford sent us this photo of a Pretty Chalk Carpet which flew up on to a garden fence on the coast path in the NE corner of Portland Harbour today.
This is a remarkable sighting as the flight season is usually early June – August, though I have been reliably informed there has been a sighting recorded in the Dorset Moth group in mid April.
There is always a possibility that this could a moth that has been bred and released as it would emerge early due to the temperature in a house. Something hard to prove unless someone tells us that is the case.
It is of course April Fools Day, but in this instance that can definitely be ruled out!
The State of the UK’s Butterflies
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Sign up for a free online seminar on 27 November to hear Butterfly Conservation’s Dr Richard Fox speak about whether conservation efforts to save butterflies is working. Continue reading
Guided walk on Slop Bog
Silver-studded Blue. Photo: Mark Woodley
We have slotted another walk into our programme, and it’s one in the conurbation. Continue reading
Box Tree moth, Bournemouth
Box-tree Moth. Photo: Alan Cherry
Alan found this Box Tree moth flying around his bedroom in Bournemouth and sent us his photo on 12/08/22.
An unwelcome immigrant species if you grow Box , but nevertheless a beautiful insect.
Elephant Hawkmoth. Photo: Paul Swann
Paul commented how nice it was to find an Elephant Hawkmoth in the wild at Alner’s Gorse on 7/07/22, rather than as usually seen in a moth trap.
This species is usually seen May early August .
Blotched Emerald. Photo: Mark Pike
Mark was pleased to trap this lovely moth, a Blotched Emerald in his Motcombe garden trap on 22/06/22
One generation late June-July with males coming more readily to light traps, females less so.
Lime-Speck pug, Motcombe
Lime Speck Pug. Photo: Mark Pike
Mark trapped this Lime -speck pug in his garden at Motcombe on 20/05/22.
A tiny moth with beautiful markings.
Esperia Sulpherella, Merley
Esperia Sulphurella. Photo: Roger Peart
Roger spotted this tiny moth flying around his kitchen window at Merley on 24/04/22.
Esperia Sulphurella is single brooded April-June, flies in the morning and comes to light.
Its larva is found in decaying wood, tree bark, rotting fence posts, as well as decaying hard fungus.