Moths I had never seen before have appeared in my garden

A good few years ago, pre Covid, I remember having a hummingbird moth on flowers in my kitchen window box. Until I looked it up, I had no idea what it was. DH didn’t believe me, then we read in the paper that there had been sightings up here in the North East.

I’ve actually had more butterflies in my garden than I’ve ever had and most of them are flying around in pairs which means even more butterflies. Trouble is my garden needs a really good clear out ( I have inches of pine cones etc in some parts) but I’m worried that I’ll be killing off next years insects if I do so.

I m the opposite Aely I ve seen more butterflies this year than for a long time. Mostly cabbage whites, little blues Meadow browns and a few red admirals. I also had a visit from the most wonderful ermine moth which I d never seen before
Trying to post a photo but it doesn’t want to know for some reason

Here it is

Lots more butterflies in my garden this year which are a joy to see. I've just googled the hummingbird moth and one photo shows it with evil looking eyes which has not reversed my hatred of moths after spending years in my last house trying to get rid of moths eating my clothes. I know not all maths are the same but the mention of that word sends a shiver uggh.

BlueBelle

Here it is

How beautiful, it looks like lovely lace.

That ermine moth is a real beauty. We have had cinnabar moths in the local hedgerows here, but generally don’t see many moths. Like many others we had a severe outbreak of box moth - never saw the moths, just the devastation they caused locally - until I spotted one sunning itself on my garden fence. It was quite a handsome creature and I hadn’t the heart to kill it (just don’t tell any of my neighbours!!).

I haven’t noticed moths around but there seem to be lots of butterflies this year.

I’ve got a moth in my kitchen. Keep thinking it’s worked its way back outside only to find it again. Worried about it drowning itself in the washing up bowl or squashing it. Every so often I move something and it flutters out at me giving me a bit of a fright.

Problem with cinnabar moths is that they rely totally on ragwort so there is an ongoing dialogue between anyone that has or has ever owned a horse and people that think ragwort needs to be protected for the sake of the moths. It’s a difficult balance.

I’ve just rescued a Jersey Tiger moth from my house.

It’s the second time in two days and although it’s lovely to look at I’d rather it wasn’t flapping madly against the window!

https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202607/medium-8g4nk9-pxl-20260710-125454691.jpg https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202607/medium-7g1fw2-pxl-20260728-100339557.jpg

We have had quite a few moths and butterflies this year. I have just seen my first Jersey Tiger moth which was really beautiful. We have also had Elephant Hawk moths which are very large and a tan and pink colour, and have just seen a Hummingbird Hawk moth around the salvia plants we have.

We were thrilled to see cinnabar caterpillars last year after many years absence. A friend said they called them Cuthberts. Unfortunately no Cuthberts again this year.

Box Tree moth, never seemln before or since

I have seen a lovely range of butterflies on my allotment but the only moths I have seen so far are the boring little brown ones that eat wool.

The box tree moth was laying eggs on my five little round box trees and their caterpillars munched their way through the lot before I even noticed!!

It's definitely a good year for years. I too, have had plently of humming bird moths on my valerian, a couple of Jersey Tiger moths and a single cinnabar moth which I had a bad reaction with. I know they don't bite or sting but I was watching it sitting on my arm when I suddenly felt what seemed like a very intense stinging sensation. Apparently they can transfer the juice of the ragwort which they feed to your skin, 3-4 weeks later there is a scar from where it sat. Needless to say I've gone off them even if they are pretty.

I disturbed a Buddleia bush a couple of days ago It is a long while since I saw so many butterflies rise up

Aely.......many years ago when me and Daughter fell out a moth came into my porch and took refuge on the wall. I had never seen one like it, it was very big and refused to move, stayed there for seeks and I despaired of ever seeing Daughter again. One day the Moth left and the same day Daughter showed up. Never seen another Moth like it. I'm very much onto folklore and wondered if this moth was an omen.

Went for a walk a few days ago and was chuffed with the amount of butterflies we saw. Up in numbers greatly from previous years.
Also chanced to see a grasshopper sunning itself on a rock. Equally as chuffed because I haven’t seen one or even heard that unique sound that they used to make so prolifically in the days of my idyllic childhood.

We've seen loads of different butterflies and moths this year, far more than usual, We've been seeing Jersey Tiger moths for several years.

I’ve seen more Hummingbird Hawk Moths in my garden this year than in the preceding 28 years.
Amazing creatures.

We’ve been lucky enough to have plenty of butterflies and the hummingbird moth , who loves the lavender.
Someone mentioned not seeing or hearing grasshoppers for a while……on holiday a few years ago our grandchildren were looking for and finding the large green bush cricket( Sennen cove) and saying ….listen to their noise. Both my husband and myself, alarmingly , could hear nothing .. ,thought they were joking with us. Only to Google and find out that after a certain age it’s normal not to hear them 😳
Made us feel very old.

I too spotted the Tiger Moth for the first time ever last week. Then yesterday, another one turned up. Apparently it's due to Global Warming, they used to be seen only in Jersey from what I've been told, but we're now seeing them in Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, & Hampshire, so they're presumably travelling further North as things hot up. I wasn't sure after seeing the second one whether it was a moth or a butterfly, as when it flew off, it opened it's wings and they are a beautiful orange red, making it look more butterfly than moth.