Dorset Moths

@dorsetmoths.bsky.social

Celebrating the moths of Dorset. Reposts, moth news and occasional hints and tips from the Dorset Moths verification team.

Please submit your moth records - details at www.dorsetmoths.co.uk

@paul-tr.bsky.social Oct 6, 2026, 3:16 PMReposted by @dorsetmoths.bsky.social

Good selection of migrants last night Rodwell Weymouth. Angle Shades Rusty-dots Vestal White point Rush Veneer lots of Luna Underwing Silver Y and Pale mottled Willow

@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social Oct 5, 2026, 1:25 PMReposted by @dorsetmoths.bsky.social

Sadly the Sorcerers weren't on the wing for us last night but in all other respects it was an excellent night for migrant moths at the Obs, with a bumper catch of routine fare together with our second ever Southern Brindled Green + another Porter's Rustic

@lytchettbirder.bsky.social Oct 4, 2026, 2:29 PMReposted by @dorsetmoths.bsky.social

Not big numbers last night but Mecyna asinalis (Madder Pearl) was new for the garden. A nice Gold Spot and Barred Sallow were NFY. Large Wainscot, Brindled Green and the only migrant a White-point were the only other species of interest. @dorsetmoths.bsky.social

@wildontheroad.bsky.social Oct 4, 2026, 5:42 PMReposted by @dorsetmoths.bsky.social

Slo-mo merveille du jour. Warming up, pre-flight checks and away! ✨️ #WildBrownsea @dorsetwildlife.bsky.social @dorsetmoths.bsky.social

@paulupwey.bsky.social Oct 3, 2026, 7:15 AMReposted by @dorsetmoths.bsky.social

Best from here today were Loxostege sticticalis and a tatty Orange Sallow, very few records of either. @migrantmothuk.bsky.social @dorsetmoths.bsky.social

@paulupwey.bsky.social Oct 2, 2026, 7:31 AMReposted by @dorsetmoths.bsky.social

Astonishingly, another Maize Wainscot here. There must be loads out there in the ether.
Also a superb little Carnation Tortrix, a rare moth here. @migrantmothuk.bsky.social @dorsetmoths.bsky.social

@mervinius.bsky.social Oct 1, 2026, 9:16 AMReposted by @dorsetmoths.bsky.social

A slightly soggy moth trap this morning, but NYG Barred Sallow. Lunar Underwing, Black Rustic. Hornet, Parasitoid wasp and many many craneflys 😆 #teammoth @dorsetmoths.bsky.social

@paulupwey.bsky.social Oct 1, 2026, 8:50 AMReposted by @dorsetmoths.bsky.social

Shaky hands time this morning when I saw this in the trap. I knew instantly what it was as I've caught them in France. Maize Wainscot (Sesamia nonagrioides). Afaik, 5th for UK and first for Dorset. Also, another Euchromius ocellea, No 7 this year. @migrantmothuk.bsky.social @dorsetmoths.bsky.social

@paulupwey.bsky.social Sep 26, 2026, 7:39 AMReposted by @dorsetmoths.bsky.social

I could see the underside of this Geometer on the inside of the trap lid last night. It looked very interesting, so I managed to pot it there and then. Well worth it, a very smart Many-lined, my 2nd this year and 3rd ever. Otherwise a Feathered Brindle well worth a photo. @migrantmothuk.bsky.social

@beardybirder.bsky.social Sep 23, 2026, 9:25 AMReposted by @dorsetmoths.bsky.social

Durwyn and I ran 6 traps at Durlston CP last night, record'g 50 spp, incl'g Sombre Brocade, Beautiful Gothic, Hoary Footman, Jersey Mocha, & many Mecyna asinalis, plus Bordered & SB Straw, Pearly U'wing, & P.vitrealis on the migrant front #TeamMoth @dorsetmoths.bsky.social @migrantmothuk.bsky.social

An arrowhead shaped Sombre Brocade moth is viewed from above as it rests, facing upwards, on a sheet of grey card. The moth is patterned in shades of brown and black, with several diffuse stigma visible on the upperwing.

An arrowhead shaped Beautiful Gothic moth is viewed from above as it rests, facing upwards, on a sheet of grey card. The moth is boldly chequered with brown polygons offset by cream lines of varying thickness, & two warmer brown stigma are also present. The moth is spreading its finely feathered antennae.

A Jersey Mocha moth is viewed from above as it rests, wings spread and facing upwards, on a sheet of grey card. The moth is pale orange-buff in colour, with dense darker speckling across the upperwings and has single, hard to spot, white dots present in the centre of each wing.

A cylindrical Hoary Footman moth is viewed from above as it rests, facing right, on a sheet of grey card. The moth has a dull orange head and long orange-yellow legs, whilst its tightly rolled wings are a very pale grey.

@beardybirder.bsky.social Sep 22, 2026, 8:38 AMReposted by @dorsetmoths.bsky.social

My 1st ever Many-lined in the Upton garden trap last night was much appreciated, after several other local records recently, with 2 Golden Twin-spot, Dewick's Plusia, Deep-brown Dart, 3 Blair's Mocha, & 10 Vestal the best of the rest #TeamMoth @dorsetmoths.bsky.social @migrantmothuk.bsky.social

A Many-lined moth rests, wings spread and bathed in MV light, on the pale wooden inner wall of a moth trap. The moth is finely striped/lined in shades of brown and grey, with a single small black stigma visible in each forewing. The moth had unfortunately exited the trap overnight, so no better photos were taken.

A roughly arrowhead shaped, and somewhat tatty, Deep-brown Dart moth rests, facing upwards and slightly to the left, on a grey-green egg box. The moth is largely coloured dark brown, with a broad darker band noticeable across the middle of each forewing.

@beardybirder.bsky.social Sep 20, 2026, 8:33 AMReposted by @dorsetmoths.bsky.social

104/30 in the Upton garden traps this morning, albeit 1/2 of which were LYU. Notables incl'd another Golden Twin-spot, plus Pediasia contaminella & Acrobasis suavella, whilst Autumnal Rustic & Brindled Green were NFY. A box fresh SM Willow was my 1st in a while too #TeamMoth @dorsetmoths.bsky.social

A grey coloured and narrowly arrowhead shaped Small Mottled Willow moth rests, facing the camera, on a grey egg box. The moth is marbled with black & brown tones, and has a large orange-brown stigma in the centre of each forewing.

A capuchino coloured Autumnal Rustic moth rests, facing upwards, on a grey egg box. The moth has several rectangular dark brown marks along the edge of each forewing and large black eyes.

@mikemoths.bsky.social Sep 15, 2026, 7:56 PMReposted by @dorsetmoths.bsky.social

Always good to see a Convolvulus Hawk-moth, one of the largest #migrantmoths to reach our shores. Other migrant species included this Ni Moth. West Dorset (VC9) last night.
@dorsetmoths.bsky.social
@migrantmothuk.bsky.social
@dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social
#teammoth

@beardybirder.bsky.social Sep 16, 2026, 7:41 AMReposted by @dorsetmoths.bsky.social

A not unexpected 53/19 this morning in the Upton garden, after the first really clear & chilly night of the autumn, with a couple of Vestal and decidely tatty examples of Centre-barred Sallow & Small China-mark the only species of any note #TeamMoth @dorsetmoths.bsky.social

A very worn, roughly triangular shaped, Small China-mark micromoth rests, facing upwards, on the pale wooden inner wall of a moth trap. The moth is largely off-white coloured, but with a glimpse of black markings on its underwings.

An arrowhead shaped, orange and yellow coloured, Centre-barred Sallow moth, viewed from above and facing left at an oblique angle, rests on a blue egg box.

A triangular shaped Vestal moth faces left on a grey-green egg box. The moth is cream coloured, with a full red stripe across the wing and has obviously feathered antennae.

@beardybirder.bsky.social Sep 18, 2026, 8:25 AMReposted by @dorsetmoths.bsky.social

A nice array of migrants amongst 45/19 in the Upton garden this morning incl'd an apparent Tuta absoluta (NFM), Palpita vitrealis, R.Veneer, & RDP. Plusiids were also well represented, with 2 Golden Twin-spot, Dewick's Plusia, & Silver Y #TeamMoth @dorsetmoths.bsky.social @migrantmothuk.bsky.social

Poor record shot of an apparent Tuta absoluta (Tomato Leaf-miner) micromoth facing right on the pale wooden floor of a moth trap. The moth is narrowly cylindrical and it's wings are heavily speckled grey and brown on a creamy background, whilst its long legs and antennae are closely ringed black and white.

A Golden Twin-spot moth faces the viewer, triangular wings spread, as it rests on top of a grey egg box. The moth is coloured a mix of gold and warm brown, with two large white spots visible in the middle of each upperwing.

@dorsetmoths.bsky.social Sep 15, 2026, 9:25 AM

Yep - Plain Wave.

@mervinius.bsky.social Sep 15, 2026, 8:33 AMReposted by @dorsetmoths.bsky.social

First morning I've felt a little cold opening the moth trap! 29 Species Kent Black Arches, Ruby Tiger, Heath Rustic, L-album Wainscot, Pale Mottled Willow, Centre-Barred Sallow, 2 very different Brindled Green moths and I think a Plain Wave? Unless its Riband Wave? @dorsetmoths.bsky.social #teammoth

@martinswarren.bsky.social Sep 14, 2026, 10:43 AMReposted by @dorsetmoths.bsky.social

Lovely mild night with lots of moths in Corfe Castle. 42sp/182. Lots of Centre Barred Sallow and Sallow. Of interest, one second brood Blackneck, a Cypress Pug and a few Vestal. Also beautifully marked Blood Vein and Pink Barred Sallow (shown) @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social @dorsetmoths.bsky.social

@mikemoths.bsky.social Sep 14, 2026, 9:04 PMReposted by @dorsetmoths.bsky.social

Well, that’s a promising start for the night ahead.
West Dorset VC9
@migrantmothuk.bsky.social
@dorsetmoths.bsky.social

@james1phillips.bsky.social Sep 14, 2026, 8:23 AMReposted by @dorsetmoths.bsky.social

Conditions looked superb last night but quiet: 13 Vestal, 11 Small Mottled Willow, 14 Delicate, 11 Rush Veneer, 3 Turnip, European Corn Borer, Silver Y. However the Nicotiana has 3-4 Convolvulus Hawk nectaring at the flowers at dusk each night @dorsetmoths.bsky.social @migrantmothuk.bsky.social

Older posts