Big moth alert!

Our regular weekly moth trapping session has been a bit quiet of late due to the colder weather but this morning we found our first hawkmoth of the season, a really beautiful Poplar Hawkmoth (Laothoe populi). The colours were really fresh on this one, so it probably only emerged in the last few days.

Poplar Hawkmoth

Poplar Hawkmoths are the most widely distributed hawkmoth in the UK and recorded from all counties. They overwinter as pupa underground and do not feed as adults - all their food during the adult stage comes from reserves in their big fat body.

Amongst the moths that we see frequently at this time of year, we also had a Pebble Prominent (Notodonta ziczac) - our moth records go back to 1967 and this is only the fourth time it has been caught on site, so it was a real treat to see it.

Pebble Prominent

But my favourite of the day was probably this Chocolate-tip (Clostera curtula). Moths are masters of camouflage and this one looks just like a piece of broken twig.

Chocolate-tip