Scarborough Field Naturalists’ Society
With
Scarborough Wildlife
Common Macro Moths -
This page shows the commonest macro moths recorded in Yorkshire in July. 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.
Apamea monoglypha
Dark Arches
Concise Guide: P130
Noctua pronuba
Large Yellow Underwing
Concise Guide: P102
Agrotis exclamationis
Heart and Dart
Concise Guide: P100
Lacanobia oleracea
Bright-
Concise Guide: P110
Mythimna impura
Smoky Wainscot
Concise Guide: P114
Eilema lurideola
Common Footman
Concise Guide: P90
Idaea aversata
Riband Wave
Concise Guide: P26
Mesapamea secalis agg.
Common Rustic agg.
Concise Guide: P134
Hoplodrina alsines
Uncertain
Concise Guide: P140
Apamea lithoxylaea
Light Arches
Concise Guide: P130
Hypena proboscidalis
Snout
Concise Guide: P152
Diachrysia chrysitis
Burnished Brass
Concise Guide: P146
Laothoe populi
Poplar Hawk-
Concise Guide: P78
Caradrina morpheus
Mottled Rustic
Concise Guide: P140
Eulithis pyraliata
Barred Straw
Concise Guide: P32
Opisthograptis luteolata
Brimstone Moth
Concise Guide: P54
Autographa gamma
Silver Y
Concise Guide: P146
Xestia triangulum
Double Square-
Concise Guide: P106
Idaea dimidiata
Single-
Concise Guide: P26
Mythimna ferrago
Clay
Concise Guide: P114
Axylia putris
Flame
Concise Guide: P100
Mythimna pallens
Common Wainscot
Concise Guide: P114
Cryphia domestica
Marbled Beauty
Concise Guide: P126
Crocallis elinguaria
Scalloped Oak
Concise Guide: P58
Ochropleura plecta
Flame Shoulder
Concise Guide: P100
Peribatodes rhomboidaria
Willow Beauty
Concise Guide: P64
Ourapteryx sambucaria
Swallow-
Concise Guide: P58
Melanchra persicariae
Dot Moth
Concise Guide: P108
Arctia caja
Garden Tiger
Concise Guide: P92
Autographa jota
Plain Golden Y
Concise Guide: P146
Euproctis similis
Yellow-
Concise Guide: P88
Campaea margaritata
Light Emerald
Concise Guide: P72
Mamestra brassicae
Cabbage Moth
Concise Guide: P108
Hoplodrina blanda
Rustic
Concise Guide: P140
Habrosyne pyritoides
Buff Arches
Concise Guide: P20
Noctua comes
Lesser Yellow Underwing
Concise Guide: P102
Selenia dentaria
Early Thorn
Concise Guide: P56
Abrostola tripartita
Spectacle
Concise Guide: P146
Acronicta tridens/psi
Dark / Grey Dagger
Concise Guide: P126
Biston betularia
Peppered Moth
Concise Guide: P62
Oligia strigilis agg.
Marbled Minor agg.
Concise Guide: P132
Alcis repandata
Mottled Beauty
Concise Guide: P66
Noctua janthe
Lesser Broad-
Concise Guide: P102
Nola cucullatella
Short-
Concise Guide: P96
Idaea biselata
Small Fan-
Concise Guide: P26
Xanthorhoe fluctuata fluctuata
Garden Carpet
Concise Guide: P28
Cosmia trapezina
Dun-
Concise Guide: P130
Naenia typica
Gothic
Concise Guide: P106
Autographa pulchrina
Beautiful Golden Y
Concise Guide: P146
Oligia latruncula
Tawny Marbled Minor
Concise Guide: P132
Lomaspilis marginata
Clouded Border
Concise Guide: P52
Deilephila elpenor
Elephant Hawk-
Concise Guide: P82
Photedes minima
Small Dotted Buff
Concise Guide: P134
Zanclognatha tarsipennalis
Fan-
Concise Guide: P152
Apamea remissa
Dusky Brocade
Concise Guide: P132
Epirrhoe alternata
Common Carpet
Concise Guide: P30
Oligia fasciuncula
Middle-
Concise Guide: P132
Gymnoscelis rufifasciata
Double-
Concise Guide: P48
Xestia baja
Dotted Clay
Concise Guide: P106
Cabera pusaria
Common White Wave
Concise Guide: P72
Idaea aversata ab. remutata
Riband Wave (non-
Concise Guide: P26
Spilosoma luteum
Buff Ermine
Concise Guide: P94
Pasiphila rectangulata
Green Pug
Concise Guide: P48
Xanthorhoe montanata
Silver-
Concise Guide: P28
Colostygia pectinataria
Green Carpet
Concise Guide: P36
Phlogophora meticulosa
Angle Shades
Concise Guide: P128
Perizoma alchemillata
Small Rivulet
Concise Guide: P40
Diarsia mendica
Ingrailed Clay
Concise Guide: P104
Cidaria fulvata
Barred Yellow
Concise Guide: P34
Paradrina clavipalpis
Pale Mottled Willow
Concise Guide: P140