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Mike Hetherington @mikemoths.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

Seeking out the endangered Heath Tiger Beetle on the Dorset Heaths. Blog at vitrealis.blogspot.com/2026/09/seek... #inverts #beetles #DorsetHeaths

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Mike Hetherington @mikemoths.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

A good night for migrant moths at Puncknowle, Dorset with a record (for the site) 25 Vestals, showing a nice range of colours. This is determined by pupal temperature: hot gives a light straw background, cooler produces darker pink or brown. @dorsetmoths.bsky.social @migrantmothuk.bsky.social

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Mike Hetherington @mikemoths.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

Always good to see a Convolvulus Hawk-moth, one of the largest #migrantmoths to reach our shores. Other migrant species included this Ni Moth. West Dorset (VC9) last night. @dorsetmoths.bsky.social @migrantmothuk.bsky.social @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social #teammoth

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Mike Hetherington @mikemoths.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

Well, that’s a promising start for the night ahead. West Dorset VC9 @migrantmothuk.bsky.social @dorsetmoths.bsky.social

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Reposted by Mike Hetherington

Roman Sites @romansites.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

Tiger from the Orpheus Mosaic (Corinium Museum, Cirencester). 4th cent CE. Surprisingly, there was a subspecies of Tiger (Caspian Tiger ssp tigris) ranging from the Caucasus to what is now N Iran and W Turkey. Sadly now extinct. 📷 my own 2026 #MosaicMonday #RomanBritain

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Reposted by Mike Hetherington

Philip Amies @philipamies.eurosky.social · 29/08/2026

"if it looks like a wild boar, and it behaves like a wild boar, then it is a wild boar” The article is interesting, the paper even more so. www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

sciencedirect.com

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Mike Hetherington @mikemoths.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

Firsts for the year this morning included Portland Ribbon Wave, Blair's Mocha, Nutmeg and Orange Swift. West Dorset, UK #teammoth @dorsetmoths.bsky.social @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social

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Mike Hetherington @mikemoths.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

Invertebrate of the day was this stunning ichneumon wasp Eutanyacra picta that turned up in the moth trap (West Dorset). Seems to be fairly scarce in the UK? @gavinbroad.bsky.social

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Mike Hetherington @mikemoths.bsky.social · 15/08/2026

Moth highlights from the Loire Valley, France: Spotted Sulphur, Four-spotted and Pale Shoulder. Blog at vitrealis.blogspot.com/2026/08/vive... #TeamMoth

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Mike Hetherington @mikemoths.bsky.social · 08/08/2026

Scarce Swallowtail - Chateau d’Angers, France 🇫🇷

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Reposted by Mike Hetherington

John Walters @johnwalterswildife.bsky.social · 22/07/2026

Some camouflaged moths caught at light this week. Brussel's Lace Cleorodes lichenaria, Marbled Green Cryphia muralis and my favourite the 'living piece of woodchip' Pale Prominent Pterostoma palpina. Buckfastleigh, Devon

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Mike Hetherington @mikemoths.bsky.social · 25/07/2026

Bordered Straw, Scarce Bordered Straw and my first Eastern Bordered Straw last night - West Dorset (VC9). Other migrant species included Olive-tree Pearl, Small Mottled Willow and more. @dorsetmoths.bsky.social @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social @migrantmothuk.bsky.social #TeamMoth

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Reposted by Mike Hetherington

John Walters @johnwalterswildife.bsky.social · 24/07/2026

Hummingbird Hawk Macroglossum stellatarum emerged 830 am yesterday 36 days since egg laid 630 pm 17 June at Quince Honey Farm, South Molton, Devon - an amazingly quick life cycle. In this record year the caterpillars are fairly easy to find on Bedstraws growing in sunny spots like walls and dunes.

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Mike Hetherington @mikemoths.bsky.social · 16/07/2026

Two colourful additions to the site list this morning: Meal Moth Pyralis farinalis & Bright Straw Agapeta zoegana plus the more dowdy Lesser Wax Moth Achroia grisella (a beehive resident). 284/90 overall. W Dorset, UK. @dorsetmoths.bsky.social @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social #teammoth

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Mike Hetherington @mikemoths.bsky.social · 13/07/2026

White-line Snout was a new #moth species for me here in West Dorset, UK, blown in by strong easterly winds that kept numbers low overall (66/23). Migrant arrivals were Small Mottled Willow (9) and Silver Y (3). @dorsetmoths.bsky.social @migrantmothuk.bsky.social #teammoth

Small Mottled Willow - Spodoptera exigua

White-line Snout - Schrankia taenialis - nationally scarce

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Mike Hetherington @mikemoths.bsky.social · 12/07/2026

Really useful ID summary of footman moths.

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Mike Hetherington @mikemoths.bsky.social · 05/07/2026

Beautiful Demoiselle and Painted Lady near the River Parrett, Somerset UK. @britishdragonflies.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social

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Mike Hetherington @mikemoths.bsky.social · 30/06/2026

Great to still find Skylarks, Yellowhammers and Linnets on my @btobirds.bsky.social #BreedingBirdsSurvey walk this morning. Also Red Kite new for the square. W Dorset, UK @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social

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Mike Hetherington @mikemoths.bsky.social · 26/06/2026

A watery theme to this morning's #moth trap, with Fen Wainscot new for the site and Bulrush Veneer Calmotropha paludella an unusual visitor. 363/86 in total. Scarlet Tiger and Rosy Tabby Endotricha flammealis added a splash of colour. @dorsetmoths.bsky.social @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social

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Mike Hetherington @mikemoths.bsky.social · 23/06/2026

Dark-bordered Pearl (Evergestis limbata) was an exciting new arrival for the garden this morning (West Dorset, UK). First recorded in Britain in 1994, this is a recent colonist and scarce immigrant #moth. @dorsetmoths.bsky.social @migrantmothuk.bsky.social @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social #TeamMoth

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Mike Hetherington @mikemoths.bsky.social · 22/06/2026

An escape to the Scottish Highlands 😊. Beinn Alligin and Liathach - two of the three Torridon classics - seen on the approach to Beinn Dearg. @walkhighlands.co.uk #Munros #Torridon #Scotland

This ridge the Beinn Alligin range is known as the 'Horns of Alligin'.

Liathach seen from an unusual angle (the north west).

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Mike Hetherington @mikemoths.bsky.social · 22/06/2026

I was pleased to encounter my first Wood (or Heath) Tiger Beetle Cicindela sylvatica on heathland in Dorset's Poole Harbour Basin last week. Scarce and endangered (in the UK) the species is restricted to heathlands from Dorset to Surrey. @colsocbi.bsky.social #beetle #beetles

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Mike Hetherington @mikemoths.bsky.social · 15/06/2026

Purbeck Mason Wasps are one of the most endangered invertebrates in Britain. New blog at: vitrealis.blogspot.com/2026/06/purb... #naturewriting #inverts #wasps #heathlands

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Mike Hetherington @mikemoths.bsky.social · 02/06/2026

Female Sand Lizard basking next to the trail at RSPB Arne, Dorset UK this afternoon. @rspb.bsky.social @arc-trust.bsky.social

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Mike Hetherington @mikemoths.bsky.social · 01/06/2026

Another Ni Moth this morning (Puncknowle, W Dorset) plus a Silver Y - giving the chance for a comparison photo. Two Small Marbled were the best of the rest. @migrantmothuk.bsky.social @dorsetmoths.bsky.social @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social

Comparison image showing Silver Y Autographa gamma on the left and Ni Moth Trichoplusia ni on the right. The Ni Moth is noticeably smaller, which is not really apparent from this photo.

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Mike Hetherington @mikemoths.bsky.social · 31/05/2026

Another good night for migrant #moths (W Dorset, UK). Highlight was Many Lined plus 3 Small Marbled, 1 Rush Veneer, an amazing 86 Small Mottled Willow, 2 Silver Y, 4 Rusty-dot Pearl and 15 Diamond-back Moths. @migrantmothuk.bsky.social @dorsetmoths.bsky.social @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social

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Mike Hetherington @mikemoths.bsky.social · 28/05/2026

Dorset Moths website update: the 2024 macro-moth records for the county have now been added to the site - www.dorsetmoths.co.uk @dorsetmoths.bsky.social @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social

Garden Tiger moth - photographed in Dorset 9.7.24

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Mike Hetherington @mikemoths.bsky.social · 27/05/2026

Some showy new #moth arrivals for the year this morning (West Dorset, UK): Cream-spot Tiger and a trio of hawk-moths (Privet, Elephant and Lime). @dorsetmoths.bsky.social @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social #TeamMoth

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Mike Hetherington @mikemoths.bsky.social · 27/05/2026

Ni Moth (new for the site) was the migrant highlight at Puncknowle, W Dorset this morning. Also Silver-spotted Veneer (E ocellea) 2, Small Mottled Willow 15, Rusty-dot Pearl 6, Rush Veneer 2, Diamond-back Moth 20. @dorsetmoths.bsky.social @migrantmothuk.bsky.social

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Mike Hetherington @mikemoths.bsky.social · 23/05/2026

Micro-moths are easily overlooked, but they can show some great colours. Here are Hedge Beauty (Alabonia geoffrella) and The Minister (Eulia ministrana) from W Dorset, UK this morning, both new for the year. @dorsetmoths.bsky.social @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social

Hedge Beauty (Alabonia geoffrella) - sometime just called 'Geoff'

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Mike Hetherington @mikemoths.bsky.social · 23/05/2026

Decent #migrantmoth arrival at Puncknowle, W Dorset, UK last night: Striped Hawk-moth (3), Vestal (1), Small Mottled Willow (18), Silver-spotted Veneer (1) plus supporting cast of Silver Y, Rush Veneer, Rusty-dot Pearl & Diamond-back Moths. @dorsetmoths.bsky.social @migrantmothuk.bsky.social

Striped Hawk-moths (Hyles livornica). To get three at once here in unprecedented.

Two Small Mottled Willows (Spodoptera exigua) in cop.

Silver-spotted Veneer (Euchromius ocellea)

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Mike Hetherington @mikemoths.bsky.social · 22/05/2026

One of two Adders seen on Grange Heath, Dorset UK during today's reptile survey (under licence). The brown colour and wider body is characteristic of a female. (The head is attached to the rest of the snake, if you are wondering.) @arc-trust.bsky.social @rspbengland.bsky.social #reptiles #herps

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Mike Hetherington @mikemoths.bsky.social · 22/05/2026

I was surprised to come across this Bordered Straw on heathland in Purbeck, Dorset this afternoon. First I've seen this year. Also a couple of Silver Y and a Painted Lady. #teammoth @dorsetmoths.bsky.social @migrantmothuk.bsky.social

Day flying Bordered Straw moth (Heliothis peltigera) pictured in the grass at Grange Heath, Dorset, UK. This species migrates to the UK.

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Mike Hetherington @mikemoths.bsky.social · 18/05/2026

Moth numbers remain low here on a gloomy morning in West Dorset, UK, but a few new arrivals for the year brightened things up: Mullein, Shoulder-striped Wainscot, Silver Y and Yellow-barred Brindle. @dorsetmoths.bsky.social @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social @migrantmothuk.bsky.social #TeamMoth

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Mike Hetherington @mikemoths.bsky.social · 12/05/2026

Green Tiger Beetle Cicindela campestris out and about on the heathlands at RSPB Arne, Dorset, UK this morning. Small inverts beware! #beetles

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Mike Hetherington @mikemoths.bsky.social · 10/05/2026

A trickle of new arrivals for the year, all common species here, included Iron Prominent, Pale Tussock, Bright-line Brown-eye and Marbled Minor agg. Only 22/18 on a blustery morning. @dorsetmoths.bsky.social @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social #TeamMoth

Pale Tussock male - with striking orange-brown antennae

Marbled Minor - recorded as an aggregate (agg.) as it can't be reliably split from other similar species on visual characters alone.

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Mike Hetherington @mikemoths.bsky.social · 08/05/2026

A nice range of new #moth arrivals for the year here in West Dorset, UK. Buff-tip; Poplar Hawk-moth (displaying its red hind-wing patches); Alder Moth (not common here) and Scalloped Hazel. @dorsetmoths.bsky.social @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social @dorsetwildlife.bsky.social

Poplar Hawk-moth - showing its red hind-wing patches rather than in its usual resting position

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Mike Hetherington @mikemoths.bsky.social · 05/05/2026

The (somewhat off course) Bonaparte's Gull was still at Lodmoor, Dorset, UK this morning - bit distant, though. @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social @rspbengland.bsky.social

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Mike Hetherington @mikemoths.bsky.social · 05/05/2026

Couldn't resist taking a photo of this nicely posed Goldfinch at Lodmoor, Dorset UK this morning. @rspbengland.bsky.social @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social

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