Scarborough Field Naturalists’ Society
With
Scarborough Wildlife
Common Macro Moths -
This page shows the commonest macro moths recorded in Yorkshire in February. 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.
Phigalia pilosaria
Pale Brindled Beauty
Concise Guide: P60
Theria primaria
Early Moth
Concise Guide: P136
Alsophila aescularia
March Moth
Concise Guide: P22
Agriopis marginaria
Dotted Border
Concise Guide: P62
Conistra vaccinii
Chestnut
Concise Guide: P122
Orthosia gothica
Hebrew Character
Concise Guide: P114
Agriopis leucophaearia
Spring Usher
Concise Guide: P62
Orthosia cerasi
Common Quaker
Concise Guide: P112
Eupsilia transversa
Satellite
Concise Guide: P122
Conistra ligula
Dark Chestnut
Concise Guide: P122
Xylocampa areola
Early Grey
Concise Guide: P118
Orthosia incerta
Clouded Drab
Concise Guide: P112
Scoliopteryx libatrix
Herald
Concise Guide: P150
Biston strataria
Oak Beauty
Concise Guide: P62
Operophtera brumata
Winter Moth
Concise Guide: P40
Cerastis rubricosa
Red Chestnut
Concise Guide: P106
Phlogophora meticulosa
Angle Shades
Concise Guide: P128
Orthosia cruda
Small Quaker
Concise Guide: P112
Achlya flavicornis
Yellow Horned
Concise Guide: P20
Ectropis bistortata
Engrailed
Concise Guide: P68
Autographa gamma
Silver Y
Concise Guide: P146
Apocheima hispidaria
Small Brindled Beauty
Concise Guide: P60