Cliffs & Coastline: butterflies & moths

  • Thysanoplusia daubei

    Boathouse Gem

    Mark Tunmore of Atropos discovered the migrant moth Thysanoplusia daubei (the Boathouse Gem) at Church Cove on the Lizard in 2014 – the first record for Britain!   Photo: Mark Tunmore

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  • Clouded Yellow

    Clouded Yellow butterflies are summer visitors, arriving from May to June. The coast is a good place to watch out for them. Photo: Dougy Wright 

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  • Common Blue

    The Common Blue is one of the butterflies counted annually in Butterfly Conservation’s Big Butterfly Count. Photo: Dougy Wright

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  • Emperor Moth, Windmill Farm, wildlife

    Emperor Moth

    The spectacular Emperor moth is on the wing in April and May.  Photo: Emily Hobson

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  • Galium Carpet by Leon Truscott

    Galium Carpet

    Watch out round the coast for the prettily-patterned Galium Carpet moth throughout the summer. Although nocturnal, it can be spotted when disturbed from its daytime resting places. Photo: Leon Truscott

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  • Grass Eggar caterpillar

    Grass Eggar

    The sea-cliffs of the south-west, including those of The Lizard, are among the best places to find the Grass Eggar moth, a nationally scarce species. Photo: Wikimedia Commons 

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  • Hummingbird Hawk-moth

    Hummingbird Hawk-moths are migratory visitors to The Lizard in good summers. Photo: Ray Surridge

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  • Marsh Fritillary

    This small and delicate butterfly is a protected species due to its serious decline in numbers, but The Lizard is one of their strongholds. Find them on Mullion Cliffs or […]

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  • Peacock

    Peacock butterflies emerge into the sunshine from their winter sleep in the spring. Photo: © Natural England/Paul Lacey

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  • Privet Hawkmoth

    Privet Hawk-moth

    This lovely Privet Hawkmoth was spotted at Caerthillian, resting on a fence. Photo: Steve Townsend

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  • Red Admiral

    The migratory Red Admiral butterfly can be spotted from spring until winter in the milder climate of the south-west. Photo: Amanda Scott

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  • Six-spot Burnet Moth

    Six-spot Burnet Moth

    This day-flying moth is a common sight in mid- to late summer, with its flashes of red colour amongst the knapweed and thistles. Photo: Steve Townsend

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