Rearing Cornwall Moths

Geometridae, Ennominae Wingspan: 34-46mm. A common species occurring throughout the UK, but more likely to be found in open broadleaf woodland. It occurs mostly in central or to the east of Cornwall. Its wing patterns are very similar to the other members of this Genus, but the ground colour is a distinctive almost white with a hint of purple, with much darker purple-brown markings. As with the others, there are dark wing-tip areas appropriate to their colour shades. At rest this species hold their wings in a partially opened stance which looks quite attractive. Amazingly, the larvae are possibly some of the ugliest individuals around, looking like swollen twiglets when resting. They are masters of camouflage. See my "Rearing Cornwall Moths" album in my pages here. The UK flight season is indicated as April / May with a second generation in July / August in the South. In Cornwall, they are usually earlier, occurring March to May, and again July to August, with occasional individuals appearing in September and October.

Geometridae, Ennominae Bodylength: ~45mm This last instar larva was found on some plants in our garden and brought in to take it through its final stages.

Geometridae, Ennominae Wingspan: 44-56mm. A common larger and distinctive species throughout the UK, and widespread in Cornwall. This species is, perhaps, interesting in so far as it became an indicator of industrial pollution, as two forms became known. The above form shown here is the normal individual, but in the 20th century, as industrialisation increased in the central areas of the UK, this form stood out against sooty surfaces, so was predates easily. In these areas, a melanistic form (B.b.carbonaria) which was black, with a few small white spots became the most common form, blending better with the backgrounds, showing the effects of natural selection occurring. Nowadays, as pollution has been drastically reduced, the more normal form has re-appeared again in these areas. It may be that they are now hedging their bets, as a further form (B.b.insularia) not connected to the melanism has appeared in populations which is about half-way between the two extremes. These variants are unlikely to be found in Cornwall. The flight season of this species is quite wide, quoted in the UK as early May to late August. In Cornwall, individuals can also be found in April, and occasionally as late as September / October.

Geometridae, Ennominae - Wingspan: 28-38mm. Eggs laid under a bark flap. These are the first records of this species in Europe, as its source is New Zealand. I have been recording occasional specimens in my back garden trap since 2007, but they are never more than singletons. I finally managed to induce a captured female to lay her eggs for me, and the next few pictures in this album show the offspring stages.

Geometridae, Ennominae - Body length: 4mm. Newly hatched larvae feeding on pine needles. These are the first records of this species in Europe, as its source is New Zealand. I have been recording occasional adult specimens in my back garden trap since 2007, but they are never more than singletons. I finally managed to induce a captured female to lay her eggs for me, and the next few pictures in this album show the offspring stages.

Geometridae, Ennominae - Body length: 30mm. A final stage larva feeding on pine needles. These are the first records of this species in the UK and Europe, as its source is New Zealand. I have been recording occasional adult specimens in my back garden trap since 2007, but they are never more than singletons. I finally managed to induce a captured female to lay her eggs for me, and these pictures in this album show the offspring stages.

Geometridae, Ennominae - Body length: ~18mm. The pupae from this generation. The larvae just drop to the ground and without spinning any cocoon just cast of the larval skin where they lay. These are the first records of this species in the UK and Europe, as its source is New Zealand. I have been recording occasional adult specimens in my back garden trap since 2007, but they are never more than singletons. I finally managed to induce a captured female to lay her eggs for me, and these pictures in this album show the offspring stages.

Geometridae, Ennominae Wingspan: 32-34mm. In Cornwall, because of the high incidences of migrants, we tend to expect unusual species appearing occasionally, but this individual (the Second) which came to my garden light trap in July 2007 continued the problem. No-one knew what it was, even experts in Europe, so a lengthy investigation started. This continued through the year with widely separated specimens arriving into October, until I had 5 altogether, with three different forms, but at least some were similar. It wasn't until 2008, that the Natural History Museum finally identified that they were all a species which was known in New Zealand, and explained the confusion with my specimens, as this species is extremely variable. (See the first specimen picture notes for more detail)

Geometridae, Ennominae Wingspan: 32-34mm This individual (the 13th) which came to my garden light trap in August 2014 showed that more were still in the area. It wasn't until 2008, that the Natural History Museum finally identified that they were all a species which was known in New Zealand, and explained the confusion with my specimens, as this species is extremely variable. (See the first specimen picture notes for more detail)

Sphingidae, Sphinginae Final Length: 100mm. This fairly common moth is the largest indigenous species for the UK, and the caterpillar can usually reach 100mm before pupation. The caterpillar is quite a colourful insect, which has composite side stripes consisting of white, purple and black colours.

Sphingidae, Sphinginae Wingspan: 110mm. This large moth, when at rest, is quite cryptic, but will put on a vigorous defensive display if disturbed, revealing its pink hind-wings and rocking threateningly as in the above picture. Usually occurring regularly every year, the bad weather over the last few years seems to have reduced the numbers seen. Hopefully, this will recover soon.

Sphingidae Smerinthinae Final Length: 60mm. A medium-sized Hawkmoth, quite common where-ever their food-plants of Lime Trees (Tilia species) occur. This picture was inadvertently labelled as an Eyed Hawkmoth Caterpillar originally during compilation of the pictures to upload.

Sphingidae Smerinthinae Wingspan: 80mm. This pretty medium sized moth is quite variable in the adult stage, often being a mixture of dark green and brick red. The mid-fore-wing spots, can vary in size from being joined together to form a band, to being so small as to almost be missing. They generally occur around urban park land where-ever Lime Trees (Tilia species) occur.

Sphingidae Smerinthinae Final Length: ~80mm. This species caterpillar has a distinct bluish tinge to its green colour, with generally white side stripes. Younger caterpillars have very pointed heads.

Sphingidae Smerinthinae Wingspan: 88mm. A common UK Hawkmoth, although cryptically marked on the visible forewings at rest, if disturbed, it reveals the false eyes on the hindwings to deter would-be predators by suddenly exposing them.

Sphingidae Smerinthinae Final Length: ~70mm. These are two different colour forms of the caterpillars for this moth. I've not seen a yellow one before, but they appeared in the brood from eggs laid in 2011

Sphingidae Smerinthinae Final Length: ~70mm. Another form of the caterpillar, which is supposed to be fairly rare. They occurred in the next generation of my culture in 2013.

Sphingidae Smerinthinae Wingspan: 84mm. One of the commonest Sphingidae species in the UK. It occurs wherever Willows, Sallows, or Poplars are present.