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Update

The Observatory can accommodate up to 9 people in two dormitories, you need to bring your own sleeping bags and it is self-catering. As well as Birdwatchers, we welcome people from many areas of interest including Moths, Butterflies, Bugs and Beetles or just a general interest in Nature and the local environment. Please forward any Dungeness recording area records to the Warden.
You can still support the Obs by using Give as you Live when shopping online.

Moths of Dungeness

Moth trapping at Dungeness has been carried out for many years, the techniques used changing over the years from "sugaring" to Tilley Lamps and now MV lights. Over the years 565 macros and 116 Pyralidae have been recorded on the shingle at Dungeness. Recent years have seen increased recording of micros and many species are being added to the area list.

There are a number of important breeding species including Pale Grass Eggar, Sussex Emerald, Scarce Chocolate-tip, White Spot and Toadflax Brocade and large populations of Light-feathered Rustic, Tawny Shears and Feathered Brindle. Some of the important "micro" species include Coleophora galbupinella, Ethmia bipunctella and Cynaeda dentalis.


Pale Grass Eggar Lasiocampa trifolii of the rare form var obsoleta
Sussex Emerald Thalera fimbrialis
Scarce Chocolate-tip Clostera anachoreta
Toadflax Brocade Calophasia lunula
Ethmia bipunctella
Cyneada dentalis

As well as the resident species Dungeness is well positioned to receive migrants and vagrants and these are often the targets of visiting mothers. The GemVestalConvolvulus Hawk-mothBordered and Scarce Bordered Straws and Delicates are all regular visitors along with the day-flying Hummingbird Hawk-moth.
Vestal Rhodometria sacraria
Hummingbird Hawk-moth Macroglossum stellatarum
Convolvulus Hawk-moth Agrius convolvuli

There is a very long list of extreme rarities including spectacular species like Crimson-speckledBedstrawSilver-striped, Spurge and Death's Head Hawk-mothsJersey TigerPassengerDewick's PlusiaClifden Nonpariel and Beautiful Marbled
Crimson Speckled Utethesia pulchella
Bedstraw Hawk-moth Hyles gallii
Jersey Tiger Euplagia quadripunctaria
Dewick's Plusia Macdunnoughia confusa
Beautiful Marbled Eublemma purpurina

The complete checklist of moths of the DBO recording area is available from the Warden.