Scarborough Field Naturalists’ Society
With
Scarborough Wildlife
Common Macro Moths -
This page shows the commonest macro moths recorded in Yorkshire in April. The photos are not intended to be used for identification purposes, but may be helpful in deciding where to start looking in your favourite moth book (eg 'Field Guide to the Moths of Great Britain and Ireland' by Waring, Townsend and Lewington). Remember that many of the moths are quite variable in appearance, so don't just look for an exact match. Click on any of the photos below to see larger versions. You will probably want to take a look at the UKMoths website and also the Yorkshire branch of Butterfly Conservation (see the 'Galleries' section) for photos of moths which are not shown here (and more photos of the ones which are).
If you have better photos of any of the moths on this page, and are happy for them
to be used here, then please email them to info@scarboroughwildlife.org.uk . Remember
that photos should show the main features used in identifying the moth and be of
a 'standard' specimen rather than an unusual form (eg not a melanistic form) -
Many thanks to Charlie Fletcher and the Yorkshire Moth Group for putting together the list in the first place, and for allowing it to be used here.
Orthosia gothica
Hebrew Character
Concise Guide: P114
Orthosia cerasi
Common Quaker
Concise Guide: P112
Orthosia incerta
Clouded Drab
Concise Guide: P112
Xylocampa areola
Early Grey
Concise Guide: P118
Orthosia cruda
Small Quaker
Concise Guide: P112
Cerastis rubricosa
Red Chestnut
Concise Guide: P106
Orthosia gracilis
Powdered Quaker
Concise Guide: P112
Selenia dentaria
Early Thorn
Concise Guide: P56
Anticlea badiata
Shoulder Stripe
Concise Guide: P32
Orthosia munda
Twin-
Concise Guide: P112
Alsophila aescularia
March Moth
Concise Guide: P22
Eupithecia abbreviata
Brindled Pug
Concise Guide: P48
Gymnoscelis rufifasciata
Double-
Concise Guide: P48
Conistra vaccinii
Chestnut
Concise Guide: P122
Panolis flammea
Pine Beauty
Concise Guide: P112
Anticlea derivata
Streamer
Concise Guide: P32
Xanthorhoe fluctuata fluctuata
Garden Carpet
Concise Guide: P28
Scoliopteryx libatrix
Herald
Concise Guide: P150
Lampropteryx suffumata
Water Carpet
Concise Guide: P32
Eupsilia transversa
Satellite
Concise Guide: P122
Diaphora mendica
Muslin Moth
Concise Guide: P94
Phlogophora meticulosa
Angle Shades
Concise Guide: P128
Agriopis marginaria
Dotted Border
Concise Guide: P62
Selenia tetralunaria
Purple Thorn
Concise Guide: P58
Lycia hirtaria
Brindled Beauty
Concise Guide: P60
Colostygia multistrigaria
Mottled Grey
Concise Guide: P36
Trichopteryx carpinata
Early Tooth-
Concise Guide: P50
Menophra abruptaria
Waved Umber
Concise Guide: P64
Orthosia populeti
Lead-
Concise Guide: P112
Ectropis bistortata
Engrailed
Concise Guide: P68
Drymonia ruficornis
Lunar Marbled Brown
Concise Guide: P86
Cucullia chamomillae
Chamomile Shark
Concise Guide: P116
Biston strataria
Oak Beauty
Concise Guide: P62
Lacanobia oleracea
Bright-
Concise Guide: P110
Shargacucullia verbasci
Mullein
Concise Guide: P116
Agrotis puta
Shuttle-
Concise Guide: P100
Xylena vetusta
Red Sword-
Concise Guide: P118
Lithophane hepatica
Pale Pinion
Concise Guide: P118
Eupithecia dodoneata
Oak-
Concise Guide: P48
Cerastis leucographa
White-
Concise Guide: P106
Pheosia gnoma
Lesser Swallow Prominent
Concise Guide: P84
Xanthorhoe spadicearia
Red Twin-
Concise Guide: P28
Agrotis puta puta
Shuttle-
Concise Guide: P100
Notodonta ziczac
Pebble Prominent
Concise Guide: P84
Achlya flavicornis
Yellow Horned
Concise Guide: P20
Xanthorhoe ferrugata
Dark-
Concise Guide: P28
Aethalura punctulata
Grey Birch
Concise Guide: P70
Notodonta dromedarius
Iron Prominent
Concise Guide: P84
Nola confusalis
Least Black Arches
Concise Guide: P96
Falcaria lacertinaria
Scalloped Hook-
Concise Guide: P18
Archiearis parthenias
Orange Underwing
Concise Guide: P22
Eupithecia vulgata
Common Pug
Concise Guide: P44
Cilix glaucata
Chinese Character
Concise Guide: P18
Paradrina clavipalpis
Pale Mottled Willow
Concise Guide: P140
Spilosoma lubricipeda
White Ermine
Concise Guide: P94
Phragmatobia fuliginosa
Ruby Tiger
Concise Guide: P94
Xanthorhoe designata
Flame Carpet
Concise Guide: P28
Saturnia pavonia
Emperor Moth
Concise Guide: P18
Odontopera bidentata
Scalloped Hazel
Concise Guide: P58
Agrotis segetum
Turnip Moth
Concise Guide: P98
Lithophane semibrunnea
Tawny Pinion
Concise Guide: P118
Agrotis ipsilon
Dark Sword-
Concise Guide: P100
Cerura vinula
Puss Moth
Concise Guide: P84
Nycteola revayana
Oak Nycteoline
Concise Guide: P144
Petrophora chlorosata
Brown Silver-
Concise Guide: P54
Epirrhoe alternata
Common Carpet
Concise Guide: P30
Mamestra brassicae
Cabbage Moth
Concise Guide: P108
Pheosia tremula
Swallow Prominent
Concise Guide: P84
Abrostola tripartita
Spectacle
Concise Guide: P146
Phigalia pilosaria
Pale Brindled Beauty
Concise Guide: P60
Tyria jacobaeae
Cinnabar
Concise Guide: P96
Ematurga atomaria
Common Heath
Concise Guide: P70
Orthosia opima
Northern Drab
Concise Guide: P112
Discestra trifolii
Nutmeg
Concise Guide: P108
Chloroclysta siterata
Red-
Concise Guide: P34
Drepana falcataria
Pebble Hook-
Concise Guide: P18
Ecliptopera silaceata
Small Phoenix
Concise Guide: P32
Theria primaria
Early Moth
Concise Guide: P72
Odontosia carmelita
Scarce Prominent
Concise Guide: P84
Xestia c-
Setaceous Hebrew Character
Concise Guide: P106
Autographa gamma
Silver Y
Concise Guide: P146
Thera obeliscata
Grey Pine Carpet
Concise Guide: P34
Eupithecia tripunctaria
White-
Concise Guide: P44
Ochropleura plecta
Flame Shoulder
Concise Guide: P100
Eupithecia virgaureata
Golden-
Concise Guide: P46
Eupithecia pulchellata
Foxglove Pug
Concise Guide: P42
Colocasia coryli
Nut-
Concise Guide: P144
Eupithecia subfuscata
Grey Pug
Concise Guide: P46
Idaea seriata
Small Dusty Wave
Concise Guide: P26
Pterostoma palpina
Pale Prominent
Concise Guide: P84
Calliteara pudibunda
Pale Tussock
Concise Guide: P88
Eupithecia exiguata
Mottled Pug
Concise Guide: P42
Mimas tiliae
Lime Hawk-
Concise Guide: P78
Chloroclysta miata
Autumn Green Carpet
Concise Guide: P34
Eilema lurideola
Common Footman
Concise Guide: P90
Spilosoma luteum
Buff Ermine
Concise Guide: P94
Lacanobia thalassina
Pale-
Concise Guide: P110
Eupithecia exiguata exiguata
Mottled Pug
Concise Guide: P42
Agrotis exclamationis
Heart and Dart
Concise Guide: P100
Eupithecia vulgata vulgata
Common Pug
Concise Guide: P44
Biston betularia
Peppered Moth
Concise Guide: P62
Hadena bicruris
Lychnis
Concise Guide: P110
Euplexia lucipara
Small Angle Shades
Concise Guide: P128
Lithophane ornitopus lactipennis
Grey Shoulder-
Concise Guide: P118
Thera britannica
Spruce Carpet
Concise Guide: P34
Lomaspilis marginata
Clouded Border
Concise Guide: P52
Euthrix potatoria
Drinker
Concise Guide: P16