Yup - more of this please 😀🦋👍🏼 (less rain obvs)

Zoë Watson photographed this newly emerged holly blue #butterfly in our garden today Sussex Butterfly Conservation Sussex Wildlife Trust 🦔 #spring

Saw my first Small White butterfly of the year this afternoon. Sussex Butterfly Conservation UK Butterflies Butterfly Conservation 🦋

Not so long to wait for these beauties now! ❤️🦋👍🏼

This #PeatFree April we're celebrating brilliant bogs! 🌱

Peatland Restoration Project Officer, Polly Phillpot explains just how important peatland habitats are for the UK’s butterflies and moths and why going #PeatFree is vital.

Read here 👉 butterfly-conservation.org/news-and-blog/…

This Peacock butterfly was sheltering from the spring weather ☔️ under the cover of our guinea pigs’ run. But happy to fly when the sun finally appeared ☀️

Ever seen one of these beauties? such intricate delicacy will stop you in your tracks, but they are not big, so make time to appreciate it ❤️👍🏼🦋

An exciting January after all! 🦋😀👍🏼 #butterfly
#butterflies
#sussex

Your 2024 mothing journey starts here! 🦋🌙

Get your free Moths by Month calendar and see how many species you can tick off each month! Don't forget to record what you find and tag us in your photos.

Download the calendar today 👉 butrfli.es/48svOEp

#MothsMatter

Happy New Year and some statistics: the UK Lepidoptera database currently holds ~58M verified records of which 34.4M are macro-moths, 17.1M are butterflies and 6.5M are micro-moths. It won't be long now until we break 60M records! Butterfly Conservation 🦋

Interesting paper from Thomas Merckx & colleagues showing that Latticed Heath moths have evolved increased heat tolerance in cities across Europe onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.11… 📷 Peter Maton

Don't wait for them to come to you - use our top tips to gain a deeper understanding of these fabulous insects.

discoverwildlife.com/animal-facts/i…

MORE than £2.5m will benefit 42 community schemes across #Hampshire , #WestSussex and #EastSussex . The investment comes from the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL), paid by developers to support local infrastructure, with the SDNPA administrating ⬇️
hampshirechronicle.co.uk/news/23999209.…

Moth totals for 2023 - my best year of mothing by far! 4893 records of 877 species incl 159 lifers (121 micros & 38 macros). 33 lifers were from non-adult life cycle stages. A few records still to be confirmed eg by rearing. Happy New Year & happy mothing in 2024 everyone!!

Fascinating facts about moths in winter!
Butterfly Conservation 🦋 Sussex Wildlife Trust 🦔
sussexwildlifetrust.org.uk/news/eggs-cate…

My autumn of observing Long-tailed Blues, including all 4 stages is the subject of my latest blog bobsbutterflies.blogspot.com/2023/12/long-t…
Sussex Wildlife Trust 🦔 Butterfly Conservation 🦋 UK Butterflies Sussex Butterfly Conservation

My local research on the rare Lace Border for 2023 is the subject of my latest blog including the probability of a 3rd brood in Sussex. For details see my blog here. bobsbutterflies.blogspot.com/2023/12/the-la…
Butterfly Conservation 🦋 Sussex Moth Group Sussex Butterfly Conservation South Downs National Park Richard Fox Ian Kimber

Bob Eade Sussex Butterfly Conservation Sussex Wildlife Trust 🦔 Forestry Commission Butterfly Conservation 🦋 A fabulous day indeed and a highlight for my year too! 😍

I had several highlights during 2023, but the most rewarding was finding my 4th Large Tortoiseshell. This one in Abbotts Wood with Lisa Saw. Despite searches the next day, it never was seen again. A very magical moment. Sussex Butterfly Conservation Sussex Wildlife Trust 🦔 Forestry Commission Butterfly Conservation 🦋

Have you seen this autumnal moth? 👀🍂

Scarce Umber (Agriopis aurantiaria) males are on the wing this month, while the wingless females can be found climbing up the trunks of trees. 🌳

📷: Mark Parsons
#MothMonday