Top 10 Moths of 2020

As a keen naturalist and moth botherer, I felt I ought to put together a few highlights from my mothing adventures over the past year to show that you don't have to travel far from home to see some absolutely stunning species, and put some extra dots on the map. 

Due to a premature return from my year studying abroad, I recorded my first moth of 2020 on the 12th April. From then until the end of the year I recorded 6772 moths of 635 species (including 136 lifers), the vast majority of which were from my home county of North Hampshire (VC12). Amongst these were two species of micro moth that were new to VC12: Phtheochroa schreibersiana and Coleophora saturatella, plus quite a few other species which have fewer than 10 records in their respective VCs.

Anyway, onto my Top 10. Although I recorded moths from nine different vice counties in 2020, all of my top 10 species (except no.7) were found within a 15 minute drive from home, just to emphasise how easy it is to find brilliant moths, regardless of where you live!

1. Alabonia geoffrella

Alabonia geoffrella - 24th May

2. Goat Moth Cossus cossus

Goat Moth Cossus cossus - 25th June

3. Clifden Nonpareil Catocala fraxini

Clifden Nonpareil Catocala fraxini - 9th September

4. Silver Hook Deltote uncula

Silver Hook Deltote uncula - 28th May

5. Coleophora saturatella

Coleophora saturatella - 8th June

6. Chrysoesthia drurella

Chrysoesthia drurella - 21st May

7. Stathmopoda pedella

Stathmopoda pedella - 26th July, Norwich.

8. Coleophora limosipennella

Coleophora limosipennella - 16th November

9. Chrysoclista lineella

Chrysoclista lineella - 8th August

10. Hysterophora maculosana

Hysterophora maculosana - 7th May

I hope you all enjoyed seeing some fantastic moths in 2020 and perhaps this summary has provided some encouragement or motivation to explore your own local area even more in 2021 to see what hidden treasures are waiting to be found!