Scarborough Field Naturalists’ Society
With
Scarborough Wildlife
Common Macro Moths -
This page shows the commonest macro moths recorded in Yorkshire in March. 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
Alsophila aescularia
March Moth
Concise Guide: P22
Orthosia cruda
Small Quaker
Concise Guide: P112
Agriopis marginaria
Dotted Border
Concise Guide: P62
Cerastis rubricosa
Red Chestnut
Concise Guide: P106
Orthosia munda
Twin-
Concise Guide: P112
Conistra vaccinii
Chestnut
Concise Guide: P122
Eupsilia transversa
Satellite
Concise Guide: P122
Selenia dentaria
Early Thorn
Concise Guide: P56
Phigalia pilosaria
Pale Brindled Beauty
Concise Guide: P60
Anticlea badiata
Shoulder Stripe
Concise Guide: P32
Biston strataria
Oak Beauty
Concise Guide: P62
Eupithecia abbreviata
Brindled Pug
Concise Guide: P48
Theria primaria
Early Moth
Concise Guide: P136
Ectropis bistortata
Engrailed
Concise Guide: P68
Achlya flavicornis
Yellow Horned
Concise Guide: P20
Panolis flammea
Pine Beauty
Concise Guide: P112
Colostygia multistrigaria
Mottled Grey
Concise Guide: P36
Gymnoscelis rufifasciata
Double-
Concise Guide: P48
Orthosia populeti
Lead-
Concise Guide: P112
Phlogophora meticulosa
Angle Shades
Concise Guide: P128
Trichopteryx carpinata
Early Tooth-
Concise Guide: P50
Lampropteryx suffumata
Water Carpet
Concise Guide: P32
Scoliopteryx libatrix
Herald
Concise Guide: P150
Lithophane hepatica
Pale Pinion
Concise Guide: P118
Orthosia gracilis
Powdered Quaker
Concise Guide: P112
Xylena vetusta
Red Sword-
Concise Guide: P118
Archiearis parthenias
Orange Underwing
Concise Guide: P22
Cerastis leucographa
White-
Concise Guide: P106
Chloroclysta siterata
Red-
Concise Guide: P34
Conistra ligula
Dark Chestnut
Concise Guide: P122
Nycteola revayana
Oak Nycteoline
Concise Guide: P144
Lithophane ornitopus lactipennis
Grey Shoulder-
Concise Guide: P118
Agriopis leucophaearia
Spring Usher
Concise Guide: P62
Lithophane semibrunnea
Tawny Pinion
Concise Guide: P118
Chloroclysta miata
Autumn Green Carpet
Concise Guide: P34
Selenia tetralunaria
Purple Thorn
Concise Guide: P58
Lacanobia oleracea
Bright-
Concise Guide: P110
Laothoe populi
Poplar Hawk-
Concise Guide: P78
Anticlea derivata
Streamer
Concise Guide: P32
Phragmatobia fuliginosa
Ruby Tiger
Concise Guide: P94
Paradrina clavipalpis
Pale Mottled Willow
Concise Guide: P94