Dorset Moths
LightNews LightNews
banner
dorsetmoths.bsky.social
Dorset Moths
@dorsetmoths.bsky.social
590 followers 57 following 17 posts
Celebrating the moths of Dorset. Reposts, moth news and occasional hints and tips from the Dorset Moths verification team.

www.dorsetmoths.co.uk
Posts Replies Media Videos
Reposted by Dorset Moths
mikemoths.bsky.social
Four new species for Dorset (and a belated one for Britain) are among the highlights of the Dorset Moths Annual Report 2024. Free PDF downland from dorsetmoths.co.uk

#teammoth
@dorsetmoths.bsky.social
@dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social
@migrantmothuk.bsky.social
@savebutterflies.bsky.social
November 27, 2025 at 2:42 PM
Reposted by Dorset Moths
paulupwey.bsky.social
For 30 years there has been one species firmly at the top of my hit-list: Crimson Speckled. 30 years ago they had an almost mythical status, now more regular of course. So I was beyond elated to find this in one of the traps this morning!!! @migrantmothuk.bsky.social @dorsetmoths.bsky.social
November 15, 2025 at 9:40 AM
Reposted by Dorset Moths
mikemoths.bsky.social
A single Gem was the best migrant moth last night here in West Dorset, UK. Also three Olive-tree Pearl, 11 Rusty-dot Pearl and 4 White-point.
@dorsetmoths.bsky.social
@dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social
@migrantmothuk.bsky.social
#teammoth
Gem Olive-tree Pearl - Palpita vitrealis
November 14, 2025 at 9:12 AM
Reposted by Dorset Moths
beardybirder.bsky.social
A welcome 26/11 in the Upton garden trap after a wet night incl'd 5 Palpita vitrealis, 2 RDP & my 7th Golden Twin-spot of the yr, plus another well-marked Plusiid that shot out as soon as I opened it, which I really hope was a Silver Y... #TeamMoth @dorsetmoths.bsky.social @migrantmothuk.bsky.social
A Palpita vitrealis (Olive-tree Pearl) rests on the pale wooden inner wall of a moth trap. A Golden Twin-spot rests on a grey-green egg box. A Dark Chestnut rests on a grey-green egg box.
November 14, 2025 at 8:47 AM
dorsetmoths.bsky.social
Envy alert!
beardybirder.bsky.social Phil Saunders @beardybirder.bsky.social · 18d
Ludicrously just had my 2nd daytime Crimson Speckled of the week flying along the sunny fenceline north of the quarry at St Aldhelm's Head! #TeamMoth @dorsetmoths.bsky.social @migrantmothuk.bsky.social
November 13, 2025 at 1:56 PM
Reposted by Dorset Moths
paul-tr.bsky.social
Olive-tree Pearl to light with very pale Angle Shades Rodwell Weymouth Dorset @migrantmothuk.bsky.social @dorsetmoths.bsky.social
November 13, 2025 at 9:45 AM
Reposted by Dorset Moths
martinswarren.bsky.social
Yesterday the wonderful Phil Sterling came to Studland to tell us about some unique moths of Purbeck, and we’ve got some real goodies and some real weirdos. Who’d have thought Bagworms were so devious! @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social @dorsetmoths.bsky.social
November 13, 2025 at 9:51 AM
Reposted by Dorset Moths
phylengland.bsky.social
Death’s Head Hawkmoth on the wall behind my moth trap this morning in Swanage hub
November 7, 2025 at 8:00 AM
Reposted by Dorset Moths
beardybirder.bsky.social
Crimson Speckled flushed from field adjacent to St Aldhelm's Head Coastguards at 1215hrs. Ace! #TeamMoth @dorsetmoths.bsky.social @migrantmothuk.bsky.social
November 8, 2025 at 12:22 PM
Reposted by Dorset Moths
paulupwey.bsky.social
A remarkable 33 species (plus a Red Admiral) from the garden traps last night. Gem, Golden Twin-spot, Palpita vitrealis, 2 Blair's Mocha, Rush Veneer the highlights. Also a late Blood-vein. Photos of the Gem plus the diminutive Cosmopterix pulchrimella and Tuta absoluta. @migrantmothuk.bsky.social
November 6, 2025 at 1:36 PM
Reposted by Dorset Moths
beardybirder.bsky.social
Experience once again won over expectation last night, with my 1st remote trapping session at St Aldhelm's Head prod'g 1 RDP (& 11 Fe.Ranunculus), with a measly count of 2 RDP in the Upton garden trap saved by my 6th (prob locally bred) Golden Twin-spot of 2025 #TeamMoth @migrantmothuk.bsky.social
A tatty Golden Twin-spot rests on a grey egg box. A brightly lit moth trap rests on grassy pasture, with a night time horizon visible in the background.
November 6, 2025 at 9:02 AM
Reposted by Dorset Moths
martinswarren.bsky.social
A meagre 14 moths of 7sp last night in Corfe Castle, but worth it for two Feathered Thorns #Teammoth @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social @dorsetmoths.bsky.social
November 5, 2025 at 11:41 AM
Reposted by Dorset Moths
beardybirder.bsky.social
Whilst not exactly the hoped for migrant-fest, single Silver Y, Palpita vitrealis & 2 RDP (amongst a refreshing 21/11) were welcome in the Upton garden trap this morning, alongside a late Vine's Rustic & a brace of Monopis crocicapitella #TeamMoth @dorsetmoths.bsky.social @migrantmothuk.bsky.social
A Silver Y rests on a grey-green egg box. A Monopis crocicapitella (Pale-backed Detritus Moth) rests on a grey-green egg box.
November 5, 2025 at 9:17 AM
Reposted by Dorset Moths
mikemoths.bsky.social
Enjoyable morning helping to survey larvae of the rare Speckled Footman #moth.
Also seen were a smart Heath Assassin Bug Coranus subapterus and Heath Potter Wasp Eumenes coarctatus nest.
@dorsetmoths.bsky.social
Black and spiny Speckled Footman larva curled up on white Cladonia lichen. Heath Assassin Bug Heath Potter Wasp’s pot-shaped nest.
November 4, 2025 at 2:51 PM
Reposted by Dorset Moths
beardybirder.bsky.social
A morning well spent helping survey the critically endangered Speckled Footman caterpillar population on the Dorset heaths, with a great group of volunteers brought together by Durwyn at @footprintecology.bsky.social #TeamMoth @dorsetmoths.bsky.social
A spiny black and white Speckled Footman caterpillar walking across a granular orange rock. A spiny black and white Speckled Footman caterpillar rests amongst many-branched, off white, Cladonia lichen.
November 4, 2025 at 2:14 PM
Reposted by Dorset Moths
beardybirder.bsky.social
A single Palpita vitrealis amongst a paltry 15/3 in the Upton garden trap this morning was the sole migrant, alongside a handful of LBAMs & Black Rustic. Fingers crossed for the Canary airflow later this week! #TeamMoth @dorsetmoths.bsky.social
A Palpita vitrealis (Olive-tree Pearl) rests on the pale wooden wall of a moth trap.
October 29, 2025 at 7:33 AM
Reposted by Dorset Moths
martinswarren.bsky.social
Very smart autumnal moths from 2 nights ago in Corfe Castle: Green-brindled Crescent and Merveille du Jour @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social @dorsetmoths.bsky.social
October 15, 2025 at 12:16 PM
Reposted by Dorset Moths
sarahfaulkner.bsky.social
So happy to have 3 super-smart Black Rustic in the moth trap this morning (Weymouth) - an autumn favourite. 😍

Overall 11 species (23 individuals), included Barred Sallow, Lunar Underwing, Beaded Chestnut and Feathered Ranunculus.

#teammoth
@dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social
@dorsetmoths.bsky.social
Black Rustic Barred Sallow
October 5, 2025 at 5:12 PM
Reposted by Dorset Moths
mikemoths.bsky.social
There are some great #moths around in autumn. This morning's highlights were Merveille du Jour (living up to its name) and Blair's Mocha (probably resident around here). West Dorset, UK.
@dorsetmoths.bsky.social
@dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social
#teammoth
Merveille du Jour - 'wonder of the day' - Griposia aprilina (but it doesn't fly in April!) Blair's Mocha - Cyclophora puppilaria
October 11, 2025 at 10:59 AM
Reposted by Dorset Moths
portlandbirdobs.bsky.social
Despite the howling wind there's nothing like the arrival of much, much milder air to perk up migrant moth interest: Silver-striped Hawkmoth caught overnight at the Obs
October 3, 2025 at 9:02 AM
Reposted by Dorset Moths
beardybirder.bsky.social
A welcome 88/22 in the Upton garden trap incl'd my 4th Golden Twin-spot of 2025 (a sp that's surely bred locally), 2 Silver Y, 3 RDP, Clancy's Rustic, 9 Angle Shades, Blair's Shoulder-knot, Brindled Green, Beaded Chestnut, Caloptilia azalella & a late Endotricha flammealis @dorsetmoths.bsky.social
A tatty Golden Twin-spot rests on a yellow egg box. A Clancy's Rustic, viewed from above, rests on a pale wooden surface. A Blair's Shoulder-knot rests, head downward, on a grey egg box. A Brindled Green rests on a grey egg box.
September 28, 2025 at 8:44 AM
Reposted by Dorset Moths
beardybirder.bsky.social
A surprising 37/16 in a cold & soggy Upton garden trap this morning incl'd a few new spp for the yr, with a beautiful Green-brindled Crescent (one of my favourites) & a striking Barred Sallow the best. Another Caloptilia azaleella was also notable, plus a lone RDP #TeamMoth @dorsetmoths.bsky.social
A Green-brindled Crescent rests on a grey egg box. A Barred Sallow rests on the pale wooden floor of a moth trap. A Caloptilia azaleella (Azalea Leaf-miner) rests on a grey egg box.
October 2, 2025 at 7:39 AM
Reposted by Dorset Moths
mikemoths.bsky.social
Always exciting to see the massive Convolvulus Hawk-moth, one of our most spectacular migrant #moth arrivals. Last night in West Dorset (VC9).
@dorsetmoths.bsky.social @migrantmothuk.bsky.social
#teammoth
October 2, 2025 at 12:50 PM
Reposted by Dorset Moths
martinswarren.bsky.social
17 sp + 44 moths in my Corfe Castle #mothtrap yesterday. Inc 24 Lunar Underwings. Other lovelies were Centre-barred Sallow, Sallow, Feathered Brindle, and Frosted Orange @dorsetmoths.bsky.social @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social #teammoth
October 3, 2025 at 1:03 PM
Reposted by Dorset Moths
beardybirder.bsky.social
A measly 60/15 in the Cold Harbour office trap after a cold night still incl'd some nice seasonal fare, with multiple Sallow & Pink-barred Sallow, Deep-brown Dart, Heath & Black Rustics, & a nicely marked Delicate, plus a stonking stand-out Clifden Nonpareil #TeamMoth @dorsetmoths.bsky.social
A Sallow moth rests on a grey egg box A Pink-barred Sallow moth rests on a grey egg box. A Heath Rustic rests on a grey egg box A Deep-brown Dart rests on a green windowsill.
September 26, 2025 at 8:04 AM