A HUGE type of moth has been found in Sussex for the first time in 20 years.

The oleander hawk moth – which is as big as a small bird – was found at Newhaven Fort. The moth – thought to have originated in southern Europe from an egg laid by an African moth – was discovered at the Castle Hill Nature reserve surrounding the fort.

The nature reserve attracts hundreds of butterflies, moths and birds, but the Oleander hawk moth – which has a 13cm wingspan – is the rarest ever found there.

Lepidopterist Steven Teale has been studying the area for five years and has found more than 300 species of butterfly and moth.

He said: “I never expected to see an oleander hawk moth in my lifetime but I always hoped that I would.

“It is such an exciting find that naturalists from other parts of Britain have been contacting me to ask about it.”

The species has only been seen 26 times in Sussex in the past 150 years. The British climate is too cold for it and it died a few days after it was first spotted. There are now plans to preserve it and put it on display at Hove’s Booth Museum.