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ken - 10 June 2009
Very helpful for this beginner and have put onto my ildlife favaourites
robbie perry - 9 June 2009
hawk moth with distinctive orangey shield back of head. otherwise similar to a privet hawk, size of small humming bird but not orange wings. spent day in flowers. would like to know what it is for sure if you have time please. i live outside of frome , somerset.
Ernie Milford - 9 June 2009
Great site Ian,
I found a moth I'd never seen before and your beginners top 20 showed me it was an Elephant Hawk-moth, this beautiful pink and green monster landed on me while I was letting my dog out (everynight), it seemed quite tame so I took some pictures.
Most of the moths I see are quite small, 1 inch or so, Scalloped Oak and Swallow-tail I think.
I live in Bangor N Ireland
Ernie
I found a moth I'd never seen before and your beginners top 20 showed me it was an Elephant Hawk-moth, this beautiful pink and green monster landed on me while I was letting my dog out (everynight), it seemed quite tame so I took some pictures.
Most of the moths I see are quite small, 1 inch or so, Scalloped Oak and Swallow-tail I think.
I live in Bangor N Ireland
Ernie
Phil Virden - 7 June 2009
A clear & useful site. Thanks v much!
Mark Dobson - 7 June 2009
Great site. Saw an elephant hawk moth today in Northumberland and identified it straight away with the beginners guide. 7/06/2009
Nigel Dew - 6 June 2009
I saw a moth that looked like a curled old leaf in the garden in the begining of June, the cats also took interest so I moved it for its own protection by taking hold of the tips of it's wings. As i picked it up it curled it's back and squirted me with white and then clear liquid, a surprising amount. What on earth was it? I cannot find a reference to moths spraying anywhere on the internet. can you help? Unfortunately I did not get a photo of it.
Yours hopefully
Nigel Dew
Yours hopefully
Nigel Dew
N Bray - 5 June 2009
Hey, thanks for identfying the puss moth from me. Great site you've got here!!!
Leonard Hale - 5 June 2009
I have a Moth in my garden but have no knowledge of them ... the same moth type has returned to my garden for the past 2 years ... if I can upload picture can anyone tell me what it is called ?
Charlotte - 4 June 2009
Im not sure if i've found a moth or a butterfly, I'm completely clueless about moths and have a mild phobia of them.
However, a huge moth flew into my house. It is mainly green and red with no real pattern such as spots or bars. Just wondered ifyou had any idea what it could be? Thanks
However, a huge moth flew into my house. It is mainly green and red with no real pattern such as spots or bars. Just wondered ifyou had any idea what it could be? Thanks
James - 4 June 2009
Anyone who wants a moth or caterpillar identified and can't find it here or in a book just send a picture to me by email and I'll identify it as best as I can. My email is .
Noreen Griffiths, Worcester - 3 June 2009
Hi Found your site very interesting and easy to use I found the moth I was interested in very quickly. Can you tell me is it unusual or common to find a green and brown moth Lime Hawk moth copulating, I came across this in my garden on the Hawthorn hedge which is very close to my Silver Birch tree, I managed to get quite a good photo.
John Thomson - 2 June 2009
Very good gide, I managed to identify a moth with it. I took a picture of anther moth on 30Th May 2009 on the Isle of wight, but could not find it on your guide.I will go over it again and see if I have missed it.
Annette Cotterill - 2 June 2009
Have today (02/06/090 seen a moth in my garden in rural Northeast Hampshie - the like of which I have never seen before. Wingspan around 6cm - curving back-sweeping wings; wing colouring: light golden brown speckled with dark brown spotting. I will try to send you digital photo if I can work out how to do so.
Beverley Fletcher - 2 June 2009
We had a Lime Hawk Moth in the garden on Sunday - it spent the whole day resting/sleeping or whatever they do on a dahlia plant. Do they normally come this far north (Near Bradford, West Yorks) I'd never seen anything like it before and glad my mum was able to identify it from a book she had as I tried a couple of key words in the search facility but obviously not the right ones.
Thanks
Thanks
Andy Senior - 1 June 2009
Thankyou for providing such a wonderful site. I've been trying to identify the odd moth that lands on my kitchen window, and looking at your site has led me on to buy an ID guide, and try harder! I very much appreciate your efforts.
Paul Lawrance - 31 May 2009
Hello Ian
Saw a moth very early this morning on Ashdown Forest, East Sussex which I have been unable at identify using your excellent website. I noticed it first when flying and followed until it landed on the grass. It was sharply triangular in shape - about 2cms long - had smooth shiny bright red wings (not spotted) with a narrow black border.
Can you help identify it please?
Best wishes,
Paul Lawrance
Saw a moth very early this morning on Ashdown Forest, East Sussex which I have been unable at identify using your excellent website. I noticed it first when flying and followed until it landed on the grass. It was sharply triangular in shape - about 2cms long - had smooth shiny bright red wings (not spotted) with a narrow black border.
Can you help identify it please?
Best wishes,
Paul Lawrance
peter - 31 May 2009
hey i have seen a very strange looking butterfly/moth, i have never seen befor iv looked through all the images on this site and nothing even sort of looks like it. just woundering if anyone can help me identify this insect, it top half of it wings where bright pink and the bottom seemed to be translucent, when it landed on a nearby leaf the back of the wings of outer wing where black, sorry if i cannot be any more accurate with my details, just i have never seen such a strange buttterfly or moth. i came across a image on an american site thats sort of looks like it (w w w.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=3938) but the pink was much brighter. you can contact me on thanks pete
Lisa B-C - 31 May 2009
What a brilliant site! Easy to use, interesting and very efficient. Identified what the whole family thought to be some sort of sparrow/moth hybrid (it was huge!) as....... the top of the top 20 most common - poplar hawk moth.
Why can't all internet sites be this good? Thank you : ) Keep up the good work.
Why can't all internet sites be this good? Thank you : ) Keep up the good work.
Helen Whittle - 30 May 2009
Just wanted to say thank you. Found a little moth on our catmint and used your keyword search using red , yellow and spots to quickly id Pyrausta aurata. We do lots of wildlife-friendly gardening but rarely identify inverts beyond really familiar sp. Thanks
Lysandra Coridon - 30 May 2009
Went for a walk this afternoon & found a Cinnabar. It had been feed/resting on a dog rose in the shade. chased it around to get some pictures & it was very gracious & allowed amateur photography. The red colour was very intense even though it is a small beast. On the same walk we saw a dragonfly, a female Peacock butterfly & loads of bumblebees. Who says cities are bereft of wildlife? Not here in Liverpool!
Jan Cantle - 30 May 2009
Thanks for the great resource. I found an unusual moth on my wall, and was able to identify it as an Oleander Hawk moth within a few minutes.
Tom D - 29 May 2009
Keyword search really useful. Found what I wanted immediately with it. Thanks.
Sarah West, Minety, Wiltshire - 28 May 2009
Thank you for this site! I am a keen but useless amateur when it comes to identifying even the most common moths and butterflies, so this has been a great help.
This morning I have found a very large Poplar Hawkmoth (I know now!) resting on the south-facing front of my boarding cattery wire, so can take my time observing it. Amazing! What stunning shape and colour. Who needs fashion designers to create beauty?
I am worried about the fact that it is in broad daylight with no cover from all the frantically feeding birds, and that it is going to get very warm if the sun comes out later. I suppose it knows what it is about...
This morning I have found a very large Poplar Hawkmoth (I know now!) resting on the south-facing front of my boarding cattery wire, so can take my time observing it. Amazing! What stunning shape and colour. Who needs fashion designers to create beauty?
I am worried about the fact that it is in broad daylight with no cover from all the frantically feeding birds, and that it is going to get very warm if the sun comes out later. I suppose it knows what it is about...
Anni - 25 May 2009
Hiya. Do you know what the very small green caterpillars are that are so loved by the blue tits in the garden? They seem to dangle in a C shape from a large yew tree. Thanks, Anni.
Chris Cornwell - 25 May 2009
Thank you for your excellent site which enabled me to identify Pyrausta Aurata!
Tony Harratt - 24 May 2009
Thank you for helping a complete wildlife duffer identify what I thought was a bee!
I had a hummingbird hawk-moth in my garden during the afternoon of 24 May 2009 in urban Crewe, Cheshire. Weather was sunny and warm and the it fed for about five minutes on a variety of flowers. Absolutely fascinating to watch and I hope one returns.
I had a hummingbird hawk-moth in my garden during the afternoon of 24 May 2009 in urban Crewe, Cheshire. Weather was sunny and warm and the it fed for about five minutes on a variety of flowers. Absolutely fascinating to watch and I hope one returns.
David Brinicombe - 24 May 2009
Great site with a good search facility. However I can't find a moth with four eyes, photographed by a friend io Exmoor. Photo on my stowford.org page under /images/FourEyedMoth.jpg
Alice Bradley - 23 May 2009
Just went out to peg the washing and saw an unusual creature on my line prop. Took some photos, wondered what to do, then did an internet search on moths and came across your site. guess what,I straight away found a picture of my friend - its a \"Puss moth\". Should I leave it where it is or move it somewhere safer? - its in a rather drafty spot at the moment. And would you like the pictures?
Alice, Rainford, Lancs
Alice, Rainford, Lancs
tony morris - 21 May 2009
thanks for useful site and clear information. Have a Puss moth on external wall of brick garage laying eggs, has been there 3 days. Eggs look very vunerable on brick surface. Can i protect them and how long might the moth stay there?
Assuming they become caterpillars, they have a long walk for food!
Any advice please and thanks!
Tony
Assuming they become caterpillars, they have a long walk for food!
Any advice please and thanks!
Tony
Andrew, Julie and Liam Fowler - 19 May 2009
Great website. Found this purely by accident. Our son Liam is six and absolutely avid about moths and butterflies. He has just hatched 45 poplar hawk moths and has successfully bred some resulting in about 50 more eggs. Just awaiting delivery of Deathshead Moths and Hickory Horned Devils. Looking forward to national moth night. Keep up the good work.