Dorset Moths

An Early Grey moth rests vertically on a grey-green egg box

Two Common Quakers rest adjacent to one another on the pale wooden floor of a moth trap

A Hebrew Character rests horizontally on the pale wooden outer wall of a moth trap

A Grey Shoulder-knot rests vertically on a grey-green egg box

There've been few opportunities to run the Upton garden trap so far this yr, so the 21/8 recorded this morning during its 2nd outing produced several NFY spp, incl'g a lovely Grey Shoulder-knot, Early Grey, Common Quaker, & Hebrew Character, plus Ypsolopha ustella #TeamMoth @dorsetmoths.bsky.social

Oak Beauty moth

Dotted Chestnut moth

First #mothtrap of the year yielded 10 moths of 7sp in my Corfe Castle garden. Two stunners this Oak Beauty and Dotted Chestnut. Good to be up and running for 2026 season. @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social @dorsetmoths.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social

An excessively furry, grey, black, and rufous-coloured Fox Moth caterpillar rests horizontally on a grey garden fence, with dead grass stems and green leaves forming a blurred backdrop.

This fabulously furry Fox Moth caterpillar was making the most of the sunshine on my Upton garden fence earlier today #TeamMoth @dorsetmoths.bsky.social

Weymouth: Only one moth in the trap, but what a cracker it was. Small Brindled Beauty, new for here and miles from the known closest ones. Best from a look at the Trout Farm was a flock of ~150 Linnets. Part of flock in the photo. @dorsetmoths.bsky.social

Bulb type affects #moth species composition. Interesting findings from @gardenmothscheme.bsky.social data.

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resjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/share/JXBTVF...

An elongated & brown-marked Varied Ochre moth (Ypsolopha ustella) rests horizontally on a dark brown wooden skirting board, set against a paler brown door frame.

A brown-marked Bittersweet Moth (Scrobipalpa costella) rests vertically on a painted white coping.

The first Upton garden session of the 2026 moth year produced single Ypsolopha ustella & Scrobipalpa costella this morning (2/2), albeit with both ultimately being chased around the kitchen for a photograph after escaping from an absolutely sodden trap #TeamMoth @dorsetmoths.bsky.social

Canary-shouldered Thorn moth

CALL FOR 2025 RECORDS!
The moth traps are quiet, so it's the ideal time to submit your 2025 Dorset (VC9) moth records. More info about this at dorsetmoths.co.uk/help.php.
To be included in the 2025 Annual Report, records should be received by Saturday 28 February 2026.
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Back in early May I found this larval case on Hawthorn at Lankham Bottom reserve in Dorset. It proved to be Coleophora spinella (Apple & Plum Case-bearer) - only the second time I’ve recorded this species. #teammoth @dorsetmoths.bsky.social

A brown and white-marked December Moth rests on the pale wooden wall of a moth trap, viewed from above.

A brown and white-marked December Moth rests on the pale wooden wall of a moth trap, viewed from the front.

A fabulously furry December Moth (one of my favourite species) was new for the Upton garden trap this morning, alongside a single Tachystola, after what will almost certainly be its last outing in 2025 - it's been an absolutely fantastic suburban mothing year #TeamMoth @dorsetmoths.bsky.social

Losses of specialist and expansion of thermophilic generalist macro-moths in nature reserves of Central Europe Ongoing environmental change has caused significant modifications in the diversity, abundance and community composition of insects across Central Euro…

Losses of specialist and expansion of thermophilic generalist macro-moths in nature reserves of Central Europe: www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

National Trust launches fundraiser to help buy land around Cerne Giant Deal expected to pave way for further scientific study, boost conservation and open up access to Dorset chalk figure

Excellent news - Giant Hill is a great place for butterflies and day-flying moths.

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www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...

Four new species for Dorset (and a belated one for Britain) are among the highlights of the Dorset Moths Annual Report 2024. Free PDF downland from dorsetmoths.co.uk

#teammoth
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For 30 years there has been one species firmly at the top of my hit-list: Crimson Speckled. 30 years ago they had an almost mythical status, now more regular of course. So I was beyond elated to find this in one of the traps this morning!!! @migrantmothuk.bsky.social @dorsetmoths.bsky.social

Gem

Olive-tree Pearl - Palpita vitrealis

A single Gem was the best migrant moth last night here in West Dorset, UK. Also three Olive-tree Pearl, 11 Rusty-dot Pearl and 4 White-point.
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A Palpita vitrealis (Olive-tree Pearl) rests on the pale wooden inner wall of a moth trap.

A Golden Twin-spot rests on a grey-green egg box.

A Dark Chestnut rests on a grey-green egg box.

A welcome 26/11 in the Upton garden trap after a wet night incl'd 5 Palpita vitrealis, 2 RDP & my 7th Golden Twin-spot of the yr, plus another well-marked Plusiid that shot out as soon as I opened it, which I really hope was a Silver Y... #TeamMoth @dorsetmoths.bsky.social @migrantmothuk.bsky.social

Envy alert!

Olive-tree Pearl to light with very pale Angle Shades Rodwell Weymouth Dorset @migrantmothuk.bsky.social @dorsetmoths.bsky.social

Yesterday the wonderful Phil Sterling came to Studland to tell us about some unique moths of Purbeck, and we’ve got some real goodies and some real weirdos. Who’d have thought Bagworms were so devious! @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social @dorsetmoths.bsky.social

Death’s Head Hawkmoth on the wall behind my moth trap this morning in Swanage hub

Crimson Speckled flushed from field adjacent to St Aldhelm's Head Coastguards at 1215hrs. Ace! #TeamMoth @dorsetmoths.bsky.social @migrantmothuk.bsky.social

A remarkable 33 species (plus a Red Admiral) from the garden traps last night. Gem, Golden Twin-spot, Palpita vitrealis, 2 Blair's Mocha, Rush Veneer the highlights. Also a late Blood-vein. Photos of the Gem plus the diminutive Cosmopterix pulchrimella and Tuta absoluta. @migrantmothuk.bsky.social

A tatty Golden Twin-spot rests on a grey egg box.

A brightly lit moth trap rests on grassy pasture, with a night time horizon visible in the background.

Experience once again won over expectation last night, with my 1st remote trapping session at St Aldhelm's Head prod'g 1 RDP (& 11 Fe.Ranunculus), with a measly count of 2 RDP in the Upton garden trap saved by my 6th (prob locally bred) Golden Twin-spot of 2025 #TeamMoth @migrantmothuk.bsky.social

A meagre 14 moths of 7sp last night in Corfe Castle, but worth it for two Feathered Thorns #Teammoth @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social @dorsetmoths.bsky.social

A Silver Y rests on a grey-green egg box.

A Monopis crocicapitella (Pale-backed Detritus Moth) rests on a grey-green egg box.

Whilst not exactly the hoped for migrant-fest, single Silver Y, Palpita vitrealis & 2 RDP (amongst a refreshing 21/11) were welcome in the Upton garden trap this morning, alongside a late Vine's Rustic & a brace of Monopis crocicapitella #TeamMoth @dorsetmoths.bsky.social @migrantmothuk.bsky.social

Black and spiny Speckled Footman larva curled up on white Cladonia lichen.

Heath Assassin Bug

Heath Potter Wasp’s pot-shaped nest.

Enjoyable morning helping to survey larvae of the rare Speckled Footman #moth.
Also seen were a smart Heath Assassin Bug Coranus subapterus and Heath Potter Wasp Eumenes coarctatus nest.
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A spiny black and white Speckled Footman caterpillar walking across a granular orange rock.

A spiny black and white Speckled Footman caterpillar rests amongst many-branched, off white, Cladonia lichen.

A morning well spent helping survey the critically endangered Speckled Footman caterpillar population on the Dorset heaths, with a great group of volunteers brought together by Durwyn at @footprintecology.bsky.social #TeamMoth @dorsetmoths.bsky.social

Yes, a cracking morning’s surveying.

A Palpita vitrealis (Olive-tree Pearl) rests on the pale wooden wall of a moth trap.

A single Palpita vitrealis amongst a paltry 15/3 in the Upton garden trap this morning was the sole migrant, alongside a handful of LBAMs & Black Rustic. Fingers crossed for the Canary airflow later this week! #TeamMoth @dorsetmoths.bsky.social

Very smart autumnal moths from 2 nights ago in Corfe Castle: Green-brindled Crescent and Merveille du Jour @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social @dorsetmoths.bsky.social

Black Rustic

Barred Sallow

So happy to have 3 super-smart Black Rustic in the moth trap this morning (Weymouth) - an autumn favourite. 😍

Overall 11 species (23 individuals), included Barred Sallow, Lunar Underwing, Beaded Chestnut and Feathered Ranunculus.

#teammoth
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