Have you found an interesting looking moth or caterpillar and don't know where to start?
I receive quite a number of emails from people who have, but who find searching through the website rather daunting and difficult. I hope this page will help.
Listed below in order of frequency are the most popular ID requests I've had since starting this website. This should give you a starting point at least.
![Poplar Hawk-moth](/site/assets/files/13769/1981poplarhawkik.200x0.jpg)
No.1 Poplar Hawk-moth
This should be called the "Popular Hawk-moth"! - it's the most frequently requested identification I get. Large, peculiarly shaped and not easily disturbed.
![Lime Hawk-moth](/site/assets/files/13754/limehawkngd.200x0.jpg)
No.2 Lime Hawk-moth
Often described as camouflaged - green and brown, or sometimes just shades of brown, often found in suburban areas. Around 2 or 3 inches wingspan.
![Privet Hawk-moth](/site/assets/files/13805/privethawkmoth.200x0.jpg)
No.3 Privet Hawk-moth
Black and greyish-buff, with a 4 or 5 inch wingspan and 'concorde' shape at rest. Body with pink and black stripes. Our largest resident moth species.
![Angle Shades](/site/assets/files/17037/angleshadesngd.200x0.jpg)
No.4 Angle Shades
About 1.5 inches long, has unusual 'crumpled' or folded wings at rest, evolved to provide excellent camouflage amongst dried leaves. Can be found at any time of year.
![Elephant Hawk-moth](/site/assets/files/13912/elephanthawkik.200x0.jpg)
No.5 Elephant Hawk-moth
A wonderful pink and green species, with streamlined appearance and around 2.5 inches wingspan. Legs and antennae have whitish appearance.
![Eyed Hawk-moth](/site/assets/files/13762/eyedhawkmoth.200x0.jpg)
No.6 Eyed Hawk-moth
Normally well-camouflaged with subtle darker and lighter shades of brown, it rests in a strange position with hindwings held slightly forward. Has intense blue and pink eyes on hindwings, but these are not normally visible.
![Hummingbird Hawk-moth](/site/assets/files/13855/hummingbirdhawk2.200x0.jpg)
No.7 Hummingbird Hawk-moth
Looks like a hummingbird! - flies in the daytime and hovers in front of flowers, extending its proboscis to drink nectar. The orange-brown hindwings and black and white tail can be seen as it hovers.
![Elephant Hawk-moth Caterpillar](/site/assets/files/13916/1991deilephila_elpenorlarvaik.200x0.jpg)
No.8 Elephant Hawk-moth Caterpillar
With a fanciful resemblance to an elephant's trunk, and up to 3 inches long, this caterpillar is velvety to the touch and has false 'eyes' which it displays when alarmed.
![Swallow-tailed Moth](/site/assets/files/15212/1922ourapteryx_sambucariaik.200x0.jpg)
No.9 Swallow-tailed Moth
About 2 inches across the wings, with delicate yellowish or creamy paper-like appearance. Has distinct 'tails' on the hindwings with darker spots at the base. Once described as a 'Flying post-it note'! Normally only flying in mid to late July.
![Pale Tussock Caterpillar](/site/assets/files/15951/paletussocklarvasv1.200x0.jpg)
No.12 Pale Tussock Caterpillar
A very distinctive yellow hairy caterpillar, with four noticeable yellow tuftsalong the back and a brownish one extending from the rear end.
![Scarlet Tiger](/site/assets/files/16094/2068c_dominulacf.200x0.jpg)
No.13 Scarlet Tiger
Quite a spectacular moth - bright orange hindwings with darker spots, and greenish black forewings with white and cream spots. Expanding its range northwards it can be found well into the Midlands.
![Emmelina monodactyla](/site/assets/files/10156/emonodactyla.200x0.jpg)
No.14 Emmelina monodactyla
A strange moth, which rests in a T-shape, with the wings rolled tightly around. About 1 inch in wingspan, it also has long spindly legs and is generally pale buff in colour.
![Jersey Tiger](/site/assets/files/16099/jerseytigerbs.200x0.jpg)
No.15 Jersey Tiger
Once a scarce south-western species, this brightly-coloured day-flying species is now found all over the south and south-west, and is becoming more and more noticed
![Feathered Thorn](/site/assets/files/15225/featheredthorn280998.200x0.jpg)
No.16 Feathered Thorn
Rich red-brown, resting in a distinctive triangular fashion. The antennae can look very white, but are sometimes held hidden beneath the wings. A late autumn species, usually in October and November.
![Convolvulus Hawk-moth](/site/assets/files/13776/convolvulushawkpt.200x0.jpg)
No.17 Convolvulus Hawk-moth
A large grey moth, wingspan about 4 inches. Quite a rare immigrant species, which can turn up anywhere in autumn, though more likely near the coast.
![Scalloped Oak](/site/assets/files/15196/1921c_elinguariabs.200x0.jpg)
No.18 Scalloped Oak
About an inch across the wings, this two-tone buff moth appears in July and August. There is a darker band across the centre of the wings containing a brown spot.
![Mullein Caterpillar](/site/assets/files/16748/2221s_verbascilarvaeb.200x0.jpg)
No.19 Mullein Caterpillar
A yellow, black and white caterpillar which is sometimes found in gardens, as it has a tendency to feed on Buddleia in addition to its normal foodplants.
![Lesser Swallow Prominent](/site/assets/files/15762/2006pheosiagnomaik.200x0.jpg)
No.20 Lesser Swallow Prominent
A species which occurs in the spring as well as early autumn, this moth has a subtlecombination of chocolate brown and white colours, but is very similar to the Swallow Prominent