Scarlet Tiger Moth found at The Deneway
Lottie Craft
Youth Ranger
Scarlet Tiger Moths (Callimorpha dominula) are a colourful moth species with bright red hindwings and black or dark metallic green forewings with cream and orange spots on. They have a wingspan of approximately 20-30mm.
The Scarlet Tiger Moth is day flying moth species, flying between May and July. They have only one generation per year. They are found most commonly in southern/southwest England and south Wales.
The species was presumed extinct as a resident species in Sussex until 2008 when a small breeding population was found in Friston. The two main breeding populations are now found in Brighton and Eastbourne with a few other scattered records across Sussex. Until 2008 the only previous breeding record in Sussex dated back to 1928, with exception of a record of one individual moth recorded in 1999, however, it was presumed to be a migrant, due to its coastal location near Rye Harbour.
In July 2024 a Scarlet Tiger Moth was identified at The Deneway, Sussex Wildlife Trust's reserve in Brighton, by Communities Officer Katie Parker. This is thought to be the only record of a Scarlet Tiger Moth on a Trust reserve.
The Deneway is a small, private reserve, managed by a youth-led group facilitated by Sussex Wildlife Trust. Several other community groups also use the space. The Deneway is a long, narrow piece of land squashed between residential housing on one side and the London to Brighton Railway line on the other side, sometimes only a few meters in width, but approximately 1km in length.
The Scarlet Tiger Moth record, amongst other species identified on the reserve, highlights the importance of leaving space purely for nature conservation.
Moths are declining in the UK; Butterfly Conservation UK have stated that moths have decreased by 33% since 1968 and that number are particularly bad in the south of Britain where moth numbers are down by 39%. Therefore, a new record of a Scarlet Tiger Moth at The Deneway reserve in Brighton is a win for Sussex moths and reinforces the importance of urban green spaces.
Comments
I took a picture of this moth in a garden in Worcester May 26th 2025
26 May 2025 15:49:00
I’ve just found this page while trying to identify the dozens of moths flying in my garden! I’ve been “rewilding” (neglecting) my garden for a few years, I’m happy they have found a home here.
20 Jun 2025 19:48:00
Also found this page after spotting these in Rutland
22 Jun 2025 20:02:00
Late this afternoon found cluster of about 6 of these moths on my lawn in the sunshine.
Only found this site as was trying to identify the moth species ss never seen any brfore.
24 Jun 2025 19:13:00
I had six of these lovely moths flying in my garden in Lewes on 23 June 2025. An amazing sight!
27 Jun 2025 08:24:00
We have lots of these in our garden this year. We’re in Coventry… sadly the council are planning on building houses on the fields near us. God knows what it will do to the populations of bats, swallow, skylarks, owls we have here :(
05 Jul 2025 18:40:00
I have two tiger moths in my garden in Old Morden . They seem to be joined together in an embrace. Are they mating? and shall i move tgem to a safer place?
17 Jul 2025 09:12:00
Sussex Wildlife Trust:
Hi Alan, it sounds like the moths could be mating. We generally advise people to leave wildlife undisturbed where they are, unless they are at any great risk (e.g. on a road).
I have a photo of a Scarlet Tiger moth in Plaistow West Sussex taken 18/08/2025
19 Aug 2025 05:00:00
Sussex Wildlife Trust:
Thank you Paul. Please could you record it here https://irecord.org.uk/