22 September 2026

Clouded Yellow - Handcross

Humming-bird Hawk-moth egg - Crawley

Report Details

I am seeing Clouded Yellows at local sites in and around Crawley where I have not seen them before and I suspect that if the weather holds there may be a mass emergence somewhere to rival the 500 seen near Birling Gap, Sussex on 24th September 2009. Today I had 8 at Nyman's Gardens in Handcross, plus one yesterday in Ifield Meadows (Crawley). A few days ago I also had a garden visit from a Humming-bird Hawk-moth which laid 3 more eggs on Red Valerian. However, I have recently established that larvae do not survive on this plant in the wild, so I will transfer them to Lady's Bedstraw.

Reporter: Vince Massimo
Location: Crawley and Handcross — TQ264295

Reviewer Comments

Any members who have a field of Lucerne or Red Clover, close to where you live, might like to look out for such an event. The field of Lucerne between Storrington and Cootham had a round 40 Clouded Yellows (mostly females) but as previously mentioned the crop was cut a week or two later. Any un-touched Lucerne or Red Clover would be the place to check. Martin K