#backgardenwildlife — Public Fediverse posts

Note to self. Get bigger specimen pots.

First Privet Hawk moth of the year last night. (VC13).
I did have 4 elephant hawks as well mind.

All moths are humanely trapped by attraction to UV light, photographed, recorded on the local and national databases, and safely released. I love mothing.

I usually follow back, and really appreciate and often follow those that boost/like.

#Moth #Moths #Mothing #UKMoths #BackGardenWildlife

Meet the Puss moth, Cerura vinula. It has a Wingspan of 45-70 mm, so relatively large. Common in the UK, but few have seen one, as they are nocturnal. Named for reasons of obvious fluffiness of its dense, white, hair.
All moths are humanely trapped, recorded on the Sussex and UK databases, & safely released.

I usually follow back, & really appreciate boosts.

#Moths #Mothing #HawkMoth #Wildlife #UKMoths #BackGardenWildlife #Sussex #UK #MothingMonday #PussMoth

Muslin moth, Diaphora mendica, from the garden light trap.

Very brightly coloured underneath, and, like many species, when first disturbed it played dead for a bit until it got confident and turned over. Like all my moths, has now been released back into the wild.

I usually follow back, & am really grateful for a boost

#Moths #Mothing #BackGardenWildlife #Insect #lepidoptera #ukmoths #sussexwildlife #sussex #brighton #BrightonMoths #MothingMonday

Another large back garden moth. This one is a Lime Hawk moth, Mimas tiliae. Wingspan 55-70 mm Possibly the inspiration for WW2 aircraft camouflage.

Also, a picture of the home-made Skinner type trap I used that night.

I follow back, & am really grateful for a boost

#Moths #Mothing #BackGardenWildlife #Insect #lepidoptera #ukmoths #sussexwildlife #sussex #brighton #BrightonMoths #MothingMonday

This is a Garden Tiger moth (Arctia caja). Once rare in the UK, it made a bit of a comeback, but is now in decline. Night flying, so many people haven't seen one. Moths that tend to rest with their wings open like this, are often docile and readily handleable. Wingspan 50-78mm

#Moths #Mothing #BackGardenWildlife #Insect #lepidoptera #ukmoths #sussexwildlife #sussex #brighton #BrightonMoths #MothingMonday

I always follow back, & am grateful for a boost

These are Privet hawk-moths, Sphinx ligustri. The largest UK hawk moth, with a wingspan up to 120mm. Common, very docile, easily handled, and great for showing to kids.

I'm a keen lepidopterist, observing. recording, & releasing moths in my small urban back garden.

I always follow back, & am grateful for a boost.

#Moths #Mothing #PrivetHawk #BackGardenWildlife #Insect #lepidoptera #ukmoths #sussexwildlife #sussex #brighton #BrightonMoths #MothingMonday

I'm a keen lepidopterist, observing. recording, & releasing moths in my small urban back garden.

In two years I have recorded 258 verified species.

This is a Buff tip moth, Phalera bucephala. You can guess what he spends his life pretending to be, so he doesn't get eaten.

I always follow back, & am grateful for a boost.

#Moths #Mothing #BackGardenWildlife #Insect #lepidoptera #ukmoths #sussexwildlife #sussex #brighton #BrightonMoths #MothingMonday

I had such a positive response to my first moth post, I'll do more. All from my back garden, nocturnal, and released back into the wild.

This is a Puss moth, Cerura vinula, wingspan about 60mm.

I always follow back, and am really grateful for a boost.

#Moths #Mothing #PussMoth #wildlife #BackGardenWildlife #Insect #InsectPhotography #lepidoptera #ukmoths #ukinsects #sussexwildlife #moth #sussex #insectphotography #brighton #BrightonWildlife #BrightonMoths #SussexMoths