ONE of the largest moths in Europe has been spotted in Dorset, on the eve of a nationwide initiative to raise awareness of these nocturnal insects.

Thousands of enthusiasts regularly take part in 'Moth Night', an annual event led by the Lulworth-based Butterfly Conservation charity.

Moth-lovers are hoping to attract the palm-sized Convolvulus Hawk-moth into their gardens, which with a 12cm wingspan and a tongue longer than its body is one of the largest found to migrate from North Africa to Europe.

It has already been spotted in Portland.

Butterfly Conservation's head of recording Richard Fox said: "It has already been an amazing year for moth immigration and such activity usually peaks in early autumn.

"With migrants such as the massive Convolvulus Hawk-moth mixing it with beautiful home grown autumnal species, Moth Night is a great opportunity to discover the hidden wonders of our nocturnal wildlife at the public event or even in your own back garden."

The Moth Night event, which started on Thursday and concludes on Saturday evening, involves volunteers recording their moth sightings to build a national database.

There are also a number of free events taking place, including one at Avon Heath Country Park, near Ferndown, today.

Other moths to look out for include the Death's Head Hawk-moth, Crimson Speckled and Vestal, which all fly in from hotter parts of Europe and even Africa on warm winds.

A Death's Head was recently photographed on the beach at Hengistbury Head.

Mark Tunmore, of the journal Atropos - which is helping to organise the event - said: "One of the great things about moth recording is that immigrant species have the potential to turn up anywhere in the UK."

Experts say moths can be attracted by hanging out ropes soaked in wine, a practice known as wine roping.

Another moth attracting technique, known as sugaring, involves painting a mixture of sugar, syrup and beer onto a post or tree trunk.

Visit mothnight.info for more details.