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I just had to find a web site re moths after seeing possibly the biggest moth of my life.I saw what I think was an adult Poplar Hawk Moth flapping about in a local takeaway.To be honest I am not a fan of moths but I was amazed at the size of the thing which caused me (dont laugh) to back off.Fortunatly for the Hawk Moth the proprietor of the takeaway scooped it up in some tissue paper and took it outside to released it.I dont know if Preston in Lancs is a usual hangout for this species just in case you are logging sightings etc.I found your web site very informative in identifying this moth,thankyou.

C.Bulcock

My interest in Lepidoptera started when I was eight years old (1938) when my parents found a pair of copulating Privet Hawk Moths on a standard rose stem in the garden.
More serious collecting, together with a widening of interest to other lifeforms followed until work prevented me from devoting enough time to the hobby.
Since retiring I have resumed my former intertest and have now recorded 197 species of Lepidoptera in the Welwyn (North Hertfordshire) area. I hope that this number can be increased with the aid of your site - I have nothing with which to identify the smaller species except a 1st edition of Bierne's Pyralid and Plume Moths, and the pictures are awful!

Keep up the good work.

Roy

Lovely photos!

I know nothing about moths, but (bravely, I thought) managed to steer two of them out of my porch last night. I then worried that they might be butterflies, in which case they might have been a bit upset at being chucked out in the middle of the night. Hence my visit to your site to search for a positive ID. And bingo! There in the \"top 20\" was the spitting image of my visitors - a swallowtail moth. So now I can identify ONE moth! (Well, we all have to start somewhere)

I am just getting into moths, and I found your wed site great, plenty of info. keep up the good work. Steve.

Can anyone help me to identify approx. 60mm wingspan, brownish, one sort of white spot on each large wing, ends of wings are like crinkle cut.

Thanks

very good site. only criticism is i couldn't identify moths common to my specific part of the country, central scotland.

I've waited 25 years to catch my first Privet Hawk Moth and did so with a Robinson trap last Friday night in Rackham near Storington West Sussex. The specimen is quite superb with a cross wingspan of aproximatly 5 inches, by far the largest thing i have ever caught in the UK. I released it half an hour ago having astonished my friends! WOW!

Yes, ELEPHANT HAWK MOTH has reached central scotland (Andy Cambell)
I found one on my doorstep yesturday in north lanarkshire, wettest, coldest place on earth! why they want to live here I do not know !
Anyway I quickly identified it on this marvelous sight, then today sitting on my window sill was a beautiful GARDEN TIGER ARCTICA CAJA ! I'm now addicted to identifying moths even though I'm slightly scared of them,
Our halogen light on our drive seems to be attracting them here, and i'm amazed at the different types there are, i always thought they were just brown ugly and scary ! Ive been proved wrong !
great web site.

I am just getting into moths and found the site to be of a great help. The photos are superb.

we have just found a swallow tailed moth in our bedroom and identified it through your web page.We live in Fleetwood, Lancashire.

I happened upon this site after I had seen a Narrow-bordered Five-spot Burnet and didn't know what it was. Within a minute I had found it. This site is absolutely superb. I just haven't seen anything so good in ages. It's clear, it's uncluttered, it's informative. It has clearly been thoroughly thought through. The time taken to find good images pays huge dividends. I just love it to bits. It is the seminal reference medium for UK moths.

Well done Ian and keep up the good work!

I live in Dundee in tayside area. Found a Swallow tailed Moth today is this about the northern limit of this species

we have a swallow tailed moth in our bathroom.

BRILLIANT SITE! EASY TO NAVIGATE AND I FOUND WHAT I WANTED IN MINUTES!!

What a wonderful site! I was halfway up a ladder last evening replacing the bulb in my security light, when what i thought was a bat flew towards me. Upon closer inspection (from behind the patio doors), it turned out to be a 'large' moth. I have found it in your top twenty (Privet Hawk-moth Sphinx ligustri) and have taken not such a glamorous photo as the one adorning your site. I have not been appreciative of the diversity of moths before, and have generally avoided them if i can, but having been struck by the enthusiasm and ease of use of the site, i will make use of it in the future to identify those which occupy my garden in the evening. Thank you.

we really wanted to identify a moth we found it was grayish taupe with red splashes, we are going to try to take a photo to send to you

interesting web site

brilliant site,
used it to ident 2 micro's at first attempt.
wouldn't normally bother, great, one was a rare one for my patch.

Keep up the good work cheers

Great site,but I can't find the moth I saw

I think the Elephant Hawk Moth has reached central Scotland as it is the nearest match for the monsters I have seen in a couple of places this week. The ex moth I found in the car had much more red on the wings but otherwise I think thats them.

A fascinating site - still trying to identify the lime green specimen resting on my front door 10 July (carpet moth is nearest in size and shape)

Brilliant site - used it to identify two 'eyed hawk moths',how shall I say, \"back to back\" never seen this before. They have been 'together' for nearly 24 hours now, is this normal?

Des

July 6th,2002.
I have been searching your excellent and comprehensive site for the past 2 hours trying to identify a small day-time flying moth which inhabits flower-rich glades(germander speedwell,birds-foot trefoil, bell heather and many grasses) occuring at about 300ft in SW Scotland. It looks almost a midnight blue/black with a cream margin to the upper wings. The flight is rapid and fluttery. The nearest moth that I have been able to find in my search on your site is the Small Yellow Underwing but I'm not convinced as the colours don't look quite right. Can you help?
I have been keeping a record of this wild and wonderful area that I visit on a daily basis. It is full of butterflies,Large and Small Skippers,Common Blues, Small Pearl Bordered Fritillary, Small Coppers, Painted Lady, Small Tortoishell,Peacocks Red Admirals,Green-veined Whites, Small and Large Heaths,Ringlets,Mountain argus(Scottish ssp) Meadow Browns, and I'm sure, others that I have yet to observe!
The varieties of wildflowers and grasses that support these populations are abundant and the conditions perfect for butterflies and no doubt a variety of moths. This week(July4th), I have noted the Cinnabar and the Six-Spotted Burnet plus the little\"black\" moth\" and the plume moth.
I hope this list of butterflies and my start at moth identification is of interest.
Thank-you for providing such a marvellous work of reference that is so easy to use.

Have just identified the Elephant Hawk Moth enjoying our greenhouse! Never seen one before and your site allowed quick identification. Many thanks. Not often a website is so easy to get around. Fantastic.
Val, Wiltshire

Getting into micros is a sometimes frustrating, sometimes fascinating experience, being made somewhat easier thanks to this excellent site. Many thanks Ian - a bib big help

Steve Holmes
Cheshire
UK

Great site!

Check out http://www-pherolist.slu.se/ if you're interested in lepidopteran pheromones and other attractants

Hi

A neighbour of mine found two green moths on his plants and asked me to identify them, which I did. But I thought it best to confirm that they were large emeralds and paid a visit to your site. As a result I shall recomend you to him, and keep on looking for moths myself.

Thanks

Cleverlegs.

i have not done any work for the last hour, and it is all your fault - what a fabulous site!

I have just come across your website while trying to find a latin name for a moth. Its an excellent resource - I am a Biodiversity Officer so I have to be a bit of a jack of all trades. I've learned something already, and the pictures are particularly useful.

I found this link from the Lincolnshire Wildlife Newsletter. I feel that I may be visiting quite often in view of my lack of knowledge!