UKMoths What people are saying...
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Steven Kimber - 9 October 2001
Just found your website.Nice one bro'.The Elephant Hawk Moth is indeed a cracker.Takes me back.Love,Steve & Gill
Elizabeth M Callister - 7 October 2001
Have only just started to trap moths this year.
I took over my brother-in laws light when he died in mid may.
So far I have had 162 species.
I took over my brother-in laws light when he died in mid may.
So far I have had 162 species.
steve root - 1 October 2001
Wow! How much work went into this then?? I never realised the sheer variety and numbers of moths in this country, especially compared the paltry 60-odd butterflies. Absolutely superb.
One small request: would it be possible for the family labels to link to a description of the general attributes of the family? If I was trying to identify a moth from scratch it would be like looking for the proverbial needle.
But great, great work ( and not a single duff photo either ).
Loz Brooks - 30 September 2001
brilliant site, thanks.
martin hayman - 29 September 2001
I live in Japan and rescued a White Ermine? caterpillar about to cross a road, and stumbled upon your excellent site whilst trying to explain to my girlfriend what my mercy mission would hopefully produce.
I ended up spending about an hour nostalgically flicking through many of your pages to re-aquaint myself with various species from my childhood in Suffolk!
You may or may not know that Lepidoptera is abundant throughout Japan, and even in my tiny garden in central Tokyo I can daily watch Swallowtails and other massive butterflies (I have yet to identify),well into November.
Thanks for your work
I ended up spending about an hour nostalgically flicking through many of your pages to re-aquaint myself with various species from my childhood in Suffolk!
You may or may not know that Lepidoptera is abundant throughout Japan, and even in my tiny garden in central Tokyo I can daily watch Swallowtails and other massive butterflies (I have yet to identify),well into November.
Thanks for your work
Anthony Hardy - 26 September 2001
What a great site - it allowed me to identify the Marbled Green in my daughters bedroom last night - she was very impressed.
David Bradford - 22 September 2001
Glad to see PR for moths, as a moth photographer.
Studio 10,
Turner-Dumbrell Workshops
North End
Ditchling
Sussex BN6 8TD
James and Edward Chalu - 14 September 2001
Great site, although we can't find the one that we are caring for at the moment. The caterpillar is very pretty with three tufts of light brown hair, like a mohican, on its back and black hair in tufts all over. Once hatched from its pupa it became two creatures - a small brown moth with feathery antennae and a large hairy insect resembling a bee with no wings, which layed loads of eggs. Please enlighten us, we're very confused as to why two creatures came from one caterpillar!
Thank you
James aged 8
Edward aged 5
Shirley D. - 12 September 2001
Hi,I found a caterpillar that I wasnt sure about but your site helped me identify it as an Elephant Hawk moth. I now have it in Pupae form and want to keep it safe till the spring when I can let my Grandchildren see it before releasing it.
Thanks for a great Site.
Thanks for a great Site.
Duncan Fraser - 10 September 2001
I recently discovered a huge caterpiller in the garden aprox 4-5 inches long can you help in it's identification?
Dark green body with white and yellow markings on its back. It had a yellowish head.
Dark green body with white and yellow markings on its back. It had a yellowish head.
Any sugestions ?
Malcolm Carr - 8 September 2001
Trying to identify larva not seen before (snake-like in colours, c9cm long by 2cm diameter, white-on-black fake "eyes" and pug-dog nose).
Sadly, cannot search site for lavae.
Sadly, cannot search site for lavae.
heather gibson - 7 September 2001
i recently became interested in moths and can only say that the information and photographs made available to me on this site are building my interest .thankyou.
rachel - 7 September 2001
best moth site found yet!! found what we were looking for which was quite lucky since we only had a description!
dick waite - 7 September 2001
great site, thanks
interesting that jersey tigers (which we get in our garden near exmouth, east devon) are expandng their mainland range - warming?
interesting that jersey tigers (which we get in our garden near exmouth, east devon) are expandng their mainland range - warming?
Peter J Nicholson - 1 September 2001
A very well presented and useful site, keep it going.
Keith Capon - 1 September 2001
Just looking up old interests with a new toy - this looks good. Don't see so many moths as I used to as a boy however.
K.C.
K.C.
Wendy - 1 September 2001
I too have found a strange enormous black caterpillar in the garden and came to this site in the hope of identifying it. It was a veritable beast about 3 inches long and as thick as my little finger. It had two circular "eye" patches of yellow colour on either side of its body, where it is thickened just below the head. The body was of ribbed appearance and was covered with fine bristles. Unfortunately the dog spotted it too and squashed it before I could note any further detail. I've never seen anything like it before! Has it appeared in the UK as a result of global warming, or perhaps it has escaped from a collection somewhere?
linda morris - 31 August 2001
very educational and free unlike the natural history museum! thankyou
Simon Warry - 31 August 2001
I've just been in for the first time, having been given the URL last night. Excellent - keep up the good work. It will now mean that I will be able to identify more micros and not just the pyralids.
Steve Penfold - 31 August 2001
found a very strange Caterpillar yesterday, ad wondered if anyone could tell me what it was ?! It was the larget iv ever seen, approx. the size of my middle finger,a bit longer in length and a bit thinner. It was dark in colour and although i cant remember the markings, it was v. pretty ! would be grateful if anyone can point me in the right direction so that i can find a picture of it to confirm what it was and read about it.You can contact me at I will of course let you know if you're right or wrong when iv found out what it is !
Kath - 31 August 2001
Really nice site :) I'm making a website for the Lincoln Wildlife Trust's Horsington branch, so I'll definetly link you :)
Barnaby Briggs - 30 August 2001
Best site I have seen for ages, and a godsend to a beginner like me
NICKY BRIMBLE - 29 August 2001
FOUND IN GARDEN WHAT LOOKS LIKE A HUGE CATERPILLAR. APPROX 50MM LONG 10MM WIDE. SPIKE AT REAR ON TOP OF BODY. IT APPEARS TO HAVE A HUGE FACE LOOKING AT YOU BUT LOKKS ARTIFICIAL. FANGS UNDERNEATH APPROX 4. COLOUR CHARCHOAL BACK ENLARGED HEAD WITH TWO IMMITATION EYES ON TOP. ONE SET LARGER THEN OTHER. BODY HAS BLACK RINGS AROUND IT.LOCAL GARDENERS NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT BEFORE SO WONDERED IF YOU KNEW WHAT THIS THING IS.
Fred Westcott - 27 August 2001
Really interesting and very helpful if you need to identify a Moth which is sometimes hard to distinguish from some of the books.
phillip royston - 27 August 2001
excellant and informative web site,thank you.
Nick Campsall - 27 August 2001
I am 16 and have just built a moth trap which catches about 36 moths per night - your site is very useful for checking that the moths I identified in my moth book were correctly identified - thanks!
John No - 25 August 2001
Very interesting & useful site.
I hope it will continue to grow to become a source of informatiom on all aspects & stages of the moths life cycle.
I hope it will continue to grow to become a source of informatiom on all aspects & stages of the moths life cycle.
Cis Brook - 24 August 2001
Very helpful,esp. photos, thanks.
Tom Heywood - 23 August 2001
Was slightly disappointed that the site didn't seem to be able to answer my query on moths attraction to light. However, aside from this point, I found the site particularly fascinating.
Bernie Abel - 21 August 2001
Thanks Heaven. Finally a tool I can use to identify. All your species have their wings the way I find them in our MV trap. A pleasure to use, for a novice like me.