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Common Macro Moths.

Common Macro Moths - May

 

This page shows the commonest macro moths recorded in Yorkshire in May.  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) - it is also better if the moth is in it's 'natural' resting position.

 

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

UKmoths webpage

Distribution map 

Orthosia incerta

Clouded Drab

Concise Guide: P112

UKmoths webpage

Distribution map 

Xanthorhoe fluctuata fluctuata  

Garden Carpet

Concise Guide: P28

UKmoths webpage

Distribution map 

Spilosoma lubricipeda

White Ermine

Concise Guide: P94

UKmoths webpage

Distribution map 

Diarsia rubi

Small Square-spot

Concise Guide: P104

UKmoths webpage

Distribution map 

Diaphora mendica

Muslin Moth

Concise Guide: P94

UKmoths webpage

Distribution map 

Agrotis puta

Shuttle-shaped Dart

Concise Guide: P100

UKmoths webpage

Distribution map 

Odontopera bidentata

Scalloped Hazel

Concise Guide: P58

UKmoths webpage

Distribution map 

Apamea sordens

Rustic Shoulder-knot

Concise Guide: P132

UKmoths webpage

Distribution map 

Orthosia cerasi

Common Quaker

Concise Guide: P112

UKmoths webpage

Distribution map 

Agrotis exclamationis

Heart and Dart

Concise Guide: P100

UKmoths webpage

Distribution map 

Orthosia gracilis

Powdered Quaker

Concise Guide: P112

UKmoths webpage

Distribution map 

Laothoe populi

Poplar Hawk-moth

Concise Guide: P78

UKmoths webpage

Distribution map 

Apamea crenata

Clouded-bordered Brindle

Concise Guide: P132

UKmoths webpage

Distribution map 

Opisthograptis luteolata

Brimstone Moth

Concise Guide: P54

UKmoths webpage

Distribution map 

Lacanobia oleracea

Bright-line Brown-eye

Concise Guide: P110

UKmoths webpage

Distribution map 

Ochropleura plecta

Flame Shoulder

Concise Guide: P100

UKmoths webpage

Distribution map 

Eupithecia vulgata

Common Pug

Concise Guide: P44

UKmoths webpage

Distribution map 

Xanthorhoe montanata

Silver-ground Carpet

Concise Guide: P28

UKmoths webpage

Distribution map 

Epirrhoe alternata

Common Carpet

Concise Guide: P30

UKmoths webpage

Distribution map 

Xylocampa areola

Early Grey

Concise Guide: P118

UKmoths webpage

Distribution map 

Spilosoma luteum

Buff Ermine

Concise Guide: P94

UKmoths webpage

Distribution map 

Hepialus lupulinus

Common Swift

Concise Guide: P6

UKmoths webpage

Distribution map 

Abrostola tripartita

Spectacle

Concise Guide: P146

UKmoths webpage

Distribution map 

Phlogophora meticulosa

Angle Shades

Concise Guide: P128

UKmoths webpage

Distribution map 

Lacanobia thalassina

Pale-shouldered Brocade

Concise Guide: P110

UKmoths webpage

Distribution map 

Petrophora chlorosata

Brown Silver-line

Concise Guide: P54

UKmoths webpage

Distribution map 

Cerastis rubricosa

Red Chestnut

Concise Guide: P106

UKmoths webpage

Distribution map 

Agrotis puta puta

Shuttle-shaped Dart

Concise Guide: P100

UKmoths webpage

Distribution map 

Xanthorhoe spadicearia

Red Twin-spot Carpet

Concise Guide: P28

UKmoths webpage

Distribution map 

Tyria jacobaeae

Cinnabar

Concise Guide: P96

UKmoths webpage

Distribution map 

Cilix glaucata

Chinese Character

Concise Guide: P18

UKmoths webpage

Distribution map 

Ecliptopera silaceata

Small Phoenix

Concise Guide: P32

UKmoths webpage

Distribution map 

Calliteara pudibunda

Pale Tussock

Concise Guide: P88

UKmoths webpage

Distribution map 

Pheosia gnoma

Lesser Swallow Prominent

Concise Guide: P84

UKmoths webpage

Distribution map 

Xanthorhoe ferrugata

Dark-barred Twin-spot Carpet  

Concise Guide: P28

UKmoths webpage

Distribution map 

Eupithecia tripunctaria

White-spotted Pug

Concise Guide: P44

UKmoths webpage

Distribution map 

Chloroclysta truncata

Common Marbled Carpet

Concise Guide: P34

UKmoths webpage

Distribution map 

Eupithecia exiguata

Mottled Pug

Concise Guide: P42

UKmoths webpage

Distribution map 

Lomographa temerata

Clouded Silver

Concise Guide: P72

UKmoths webpage

Distribution map 

Scoliopteryx libatrix

Herald

Concise Guide: P150

UKmoths webpage

Distribution map 

Notodonta ziczac

Pebble Prominent

Concise Guide: P84

UKmoths webpage

Distribution map 

Anticlea derivata

Streamer

Concise Guide: P32

UKmoths webpage

Distribution map 

Biston betularia

Peppered Moth

Concise Guide: P62

UKmoths webpage

Distribution map 

Xanthorhoe designata

Flame Carpet

Concise Guide: P28

UKmoths webpage

Distribution map 

Thera obeliscata

Grey Pine Carpet

Concise Guide: P34

UKmoths webpage

Distribution map 

Nola confusalis

Least Black Arches

Concise Guide: P96

UKmoths webpage

Distribution map 

Pterostoma palpina

Pale Prominent

Concise Guide: P84

UKmoths webpage

Distribution map 

Menophra abruptaria

Waved Umber

Concise Guide: P64

UKmoths webpage

Distribution map 

Eupithecia abbreviata

Brindled Pug

Concise Guide: P48

UKmoths webpage

Distribution map 

Lampropteryx suffumata

Water Carpet

Concise Guide: P32

UKmoths webpage

Distribution map 

Mamestra brassicae

Cabbage Moth

Concise Guide: P108

UKmoths webpage

Distribution map 

Gymnoscelis rufifasciata

Double-striped Pug

Concise Guide: P48

UKmoths webpage

Distribution map 

Pheosia tremula

Swallow Prominent

Concise Guide: P84

UKmoths webpage

Distribution map 

Eupithecia dodoneata

Oak-tree Pug

Concise Guide: P48

UKmoths webpage

Distribution map 

Shargacucullia verbasci

Mullein

Concise Guide: P116

UKmoths webpage

Distribution map 

Eupithecia vulgata vulgata

Common Pug

Concise Guide: P44

UKmoths webpage

Distribution map 

Discestra trifolii

Nutmeg

Concise Guide: P108

UKmoths webpage

Distribution map 

Eupithecia exiguata exiguata  

Mottled Pug

Concise Guide: P42

UKmoths webpage

Distribution map 

Notodonta dromedarius

Iron Prominent

Concise Guide: P84

UKmoths webpage

Distribution map 

Autographa gamma

Silver Y

Concise Guide: P146

UKmoths webpage

Distribution map 

Mimas tiliae

Lime Hawk-moth

Concise Guide: P78

UKmoths webpage

Distribution map 

Smerinthus ocellata

Eyed Hawk-moth

Concise Guide: P78

UKmoths webpage

Distribution map 

Hada plebeja

Shears

Concise Guide: P108

UKmoths webpage

Distribution map 

Axylia putris

Flame

Concise Guide: P100

UKmoths webpage

Distribution map 

Hadena bicruris

Lychnis

Concise Guide: P110

UKmoths webpage

Distribution map 

Ematurga atomaria

Common Heath

Concise Guide: P70

UKmoths webpage

Distribution map 

Selenia dentaria

Early Thorn

Concise Guide: P56

UKmoths webpage

Distribution map 

Phalera bucephala

Buff-tip

Concise Guide: P86

UKmoths webpage

Distribution map 

Electrophaes corylata

Broken-barred Carpet

Concise Guide: P36

UKmoths webpage

Distribution map 

Ectropis bistortata

Engrailed

Concise Guide: P68

UKmoths webpage

Distribution map 

Agrotis segetum

Turnip Moth

Concise Guide: P98

UKmoths webpage

Distribution map 

Anticlea badiata

Shoulder Stripe

Concise Guide: P32

UKmoths webpage

Distribution map 

Perizoma affinitata

Rivulet

Concise Guide: P40

UKmoths webpage

Distribution map 

Orthosia cruda

Small Quaker

Concise Guide: P112

UKmoths webpage

Distribution map 

Xestia c-nigrum

Setaceous Hebrew Character  

Concise Guide: P106

UKmoths webpage

Distribution map 

Cabera pusaria

Common White Wave

Concise Guide: P72

UKmoths webpage

Distribution map 

Deilephila elpenor

Elephant Hawk-moth

Concise Guide: P82

UKmoths webpage

Distribution map 

Acronicta tridens/psi

Dark / Grey Dagger

Concise Guide: P126

UKmoths webpage

Distribution map 

Euplexia lucipara

Small Angle Shades

Concise Guide: P128

UKmoths webpage

Distribution map 

Paradrina clavipalpis

Pale Mottled Willow

Concise Guide: P140

UKmoths webpage

Distribution map 

Diarsia mendica

Ingrailed Clay

Concise Guide: P104

UKmoths webpage

Distribution map 

Thera britannica

Spruce Carpet

Concise Guide: P34

UKmoths webpage

Distribution map 

Lomaspilis marginata

Clouded Border

Concise Guide: P52

UKmoths webpage

Distribution map 

Lomographa bimaculata

White-pinion Spotted

Concise Guide: P72

UKmoths webpage

Distribution map 

Panolis flammea

Pine Beauty

Concise Guide: P112

UKmoths webpage

Distribution map 

Lycia hirtaria

Brindled Beauty

Concise Guide: P60

UKmoths webpage

Distribution map 

Agrotis ipsilon

Dark Sword-grass

Concise Guide: P100

UKmoths webpage

Distribution map 

Ptilodon capucina

Coxcomb Prominent

Concise Guide: P84

UKmoths webpage

Distribution map 

Hydriomena impluviata

May Highflyer

Concise Guide: P36

UKmoths webpage

Distribution map 

Cucullia chamomillae

Chamomile Shark

Concise Guide: P116

UKmoths webpage

Distribution map 

Phragmatobia fuliginosa

Ruby Tiger

Concise Guide: P94

UKmoths webpage

Distribution map 

Melanchra pisi

Broom Moth

Concise Guide: P108

UKmoths webpage

Distribution map 

Sideridis albicolon

White Colon

Concise Guide: P108

UKmoths webpage

Distribution map 

Plagodis dolabraria

Scorched Wing

Concise Guide: P54

UKmoths webpage

Distribution map 

Panemeria tenebrata

Small Yellow Underwing

Concise Guide: P142

UKmoths webpage

Distribution map 

Aethalura punctulata

Grey Birch

Concise Guide: P70

UKmoths webpage

Distribution map 

Eupithecia subfuscata

Grey Pug

Concise Guide: P46

UKmoths webpage

Distribution map 

Drymonia ruficornis

Lunar Marbled Brown

Concise Guide: P86

UKmoths webpage

Distribution map 

Watsonalla binaria

Oak Hook-tip

Concise Guide: P18

UKmoths webpage

Distribution map 

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