BUTTERFLIES & MOTHS

We have some brilliant moths in Stroud, and we have recorded 166 species so far in our garden. These range from the large and often colourful hawk-moths, to many really tiny micro-moths. We record them using an ultraviolet moth trap after dark and it is always a thrill to see what has been attracted. I list just a few below. Many moths only appear in the winter, or the spring, some have two generations in a year, and many are migrants from Europe, Africa, and Asia. 

Our largest moths are the hawk-moths and we regularly get the massive and very fast flying privet hawk moth, also the eyed, elephant, small elephant, and poplar hawk-moths. Amongst the medium-sized moths are swallow-tailed moth, garden tiger, oak eggar, drinker, vapourer, tussock moths, buff arches, various species of waves and carpets, Jersey moth, brindled and oak beauties, dusky and early thorns that rest with their wings closed like butterflies, buff-tip, lobster, various prominent species, black arches, and peppered moth. Of the smaller moths are Chinese character, frosted green, V-pug, and white and buff ermines, heart and dart and hart and club, Hebrew character, square spot, footman species, barred red, scorched wing, and several members of the tiny pug group. Also, many often difficult to identify micro-moths.