drawing of a moth

Welcome to the Lot Moths and Butterflies site. The site is a development of the Las Descargues wildlife blog, a daily journal of species recorded in and around our 300 year old Haute Quercy farm.

The farm lies in a stunningly beautiful part of the Lot in south-west France. Located at the end of a ridge overlooking the Bave Valley it is surrounded by rolling, wooded hills, deep, river-cut gorges and limestone pavement. The proximity of the limestone Causse de Gramat and volcanic Massif Central have formed a complex geology which, with overlying acid and alkali soils forms the basis for a diverse flora and mosaic of habitats supporting a rich moth and butterfly fauna. Over 1750 species have been recorded so far from the immediate area with more than 1600 species taken from the environs of our farm alone.

Traps are run throughout the year in and around the farm with weekly forays onto the limestone pavement and local poplar plantations, whilst the nearby volcanic peaks are visited during the summer months for the more esoteric species.

For further information regarding holidays at our farm and for a full description of the area please visit our sister site at www.lasdescargues.com where our daily blog can be found.

With over 1750 species it is going to take me some time to populate this site. Please be patient and visit often.

Pyrrhia umbra
Pyrrhia umbra (Hufnagel, 1766)

Continued apologies to all visitors to the site but health problems are still preventing me monitoring the site as well as I should. Material is being added by me when able and by friends when I am unable. Please continue to visit and make as much use of the site as possible.

Species logged: 1296
Images taken: 3485
Stigmella hemargyrella MineEuplagia quadripunctaria AdultArgyresthia pruniella AdultPolyommatus escheri AdultAleimma loeflingiana Adult