Scarborough Field Naturalists’ Society
With
Scarborough Wildlife
Common Macro Moths -
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) -
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 incerta
Clouded Drab
Concise Guide: P112
Xanthorhoe fluctuata fluctuata
Garden Carpet
Concise Guide: P28
Spilosoma lubricipeda
White Ermine
Concise Guide: P94
Diarsia rubi
Small Square-
Concise Guide: P104
Diaphora mendica
Muslin Moth
Concise Guide: P94
Agrotis puta
Shuttle-
Concise Guide: P100
Odontopera bidentata
Scalloped Hazel
Concise Guide: P58
Apamea sordens
Rustic Shoulder-
Concise Guide: P132
Orthosia cerasi
Common Quaker
Concise Guide: P112
Agrotis exclamationis
Heart and Dart
Concise Guide: P100
Orthosia gracilis
Powdered Quaker
Concise Guide: P112
Laothoe populi
Poplar Hawk-
Concise Guide: P78
Apamea crenata
Clouded-
Concise Guide: P132
Opisthograptis luteolata
Brimstone Moth
Concise Guide: P54
Lacanobia oleracea
Bright-
Concise Guide: P110
Ochropleura plecta
Flame Shoulder
Concise Guide: P100
Eupithecia vulgata
Common Pug
Concise Guide: P44
Xanthorhoe montanata
Silver-
Concise Guide: P28
Epirrhoe alternata
Common Carpet
Concise Guide: P30
Xylocampa areola
Early Grey
Concise Guide: P118
Spilosoma luteum
Buff Ermine
Concise Guide: P94
Hepialus lupulinus
Common Swift
Concise Guide: P6
Abrostola tripartita
Spectacle
Concise Guide: P146
Phlogophora meticulosa
Angle Shades
Concise Guide: P128
Lacanobia thalassina
Pale-
Concise Guide: P110
Petrophora chlorosata
Brown Silver-
Concise Guide: P54
Cerastis rubricosa
Red Chestnut
Concise Guide: P106
Agrotis puta puta
Shuttle-
Concise Guide: P100
Xanthorhoe spadicearia
Red Twin-
Concise Guide: P28
Tyria jacobaeae
Cinnabar
Concise Guide: P96
Cilix glaucata
Chinese Character
Concise Guide: P18
Ecliptopera silaceata
Small Phoenix
Concise Guide: P32
Calliteara pudibunda
Pale Tussock
Concise Guide: P88
Pheosia gnoma
Lesser Swallow Prominent
Concise Guide: P84
Xanthorhoe ferrugata
Dark-
Concise Guide: P28
Eupithecia tripunctaria
White-
Concise Guide: P44
Chloroclysta truncata
Common Marbled Carpet
Concise Guide: P34
Eupithecia exiguata
Mottled Pug
Concise Guide: P42
Lomographa temerata
Clouded Silver
Concise Guide: P72
Scoliopteryx libatrix
Herald
Concise Guide: P150
Notodonta ziczac
Pebble Prominent
Concise Guide: P84
Anticlea derivata
Streamer
Concise Guide: P32
Biston betularia
Peppered Moth
Concise Guide: P62
Xanthorhoe designata
Flame Carpet
Concise Guide: P28
Thera obeliscata
Grey Pine Carpet
Concise Guide: P34
Nola confusalis
Least Black Arches
Concise Guide: P96
Pterostoma palpina
Pale Prominent
Concise Guide: P84
Menophra abruptaria
Waved Umber
Concise Guide: P64
Eupithecia abbreviata
Brindled Pug
Concise Guide: P48
Lampropteryx suffumata
Water Carpet
Concise Guide: P32
Mamestra brassicae
Cabbage Moth
Concise Guide: P108
Gymnoscelis rufifasciata
Double-
Concise Guide: P48
Pheosia tremula
Swallow Prominent
Concise Guide: P84
Eupithecia dodoneata
Oak-
Concise Guide: P48
Shargacucullia verbasci
Mullein
Concise Guide: P116
Eupithecia vulgata vulgata
Common Pug
Concise Guide: P44
Discestra trifolii
Nutmeg
Concise Guide: P108
Eupithecia exiguata exiguata
Mottled Pug
Concise Guide: P42
Notodonta dromedarius
Iron Prominent
Concise Guide: P84
Autographa gamma
Silver Y
Concise Guide: P146
Mimas tiliae
Lime Hawk-
Concise Guide: P78
Smerinthus ocellata
Eyed Hawk-
Concise Guide: P78
Hada plebeja
Shears
Concise Guide: P108
Axylia putris
Flame
Concise Guide: P100
Hadena bicruris
Lychnis
Concise Guide: P110
Ematurga atomaria
Common Heath
Concise Guide: P70
Selenia dentaria
Early Thorn
Concise Guide: P56
Phalera bucephala
Buff-
Concise Guide: P86
Electrophaes corylata
Broken-
Concise Guide: P36
Ectropis bistortata
Engrailed
Concise Guide: P68
Agrotis segetum
Turnip Moth
Concise Guide: P98
Anticlea badiata
Shoulder Stripe
Concise Guide: P32
Perizoma affinitata
Rivulet
Concise Guide: P40
Orthosia cruda
Small Quaker
Concise Guide: P112
Xestia c-
Setaceous Hebrew Character
Concise Guide: P106
Cabera pusaria
Common White Wave
Concise Guide: P72
Deilephila elpenor
Elephant Hawk-
Concise Guide: P82
Acronicta tridens/psi
Dark / Grey Dagger
Concise Guide: P126
Euplexia lucipara
Small Angle Shades
Concise Guide: P128
Paradrina clavipalpis
Pale Mottled Willow
Concise Guide: P140
Diarsia mendica
Ingrailed Clay
Concise Guide: P104
Thera britannica
Spruce Carpet
Concise Guide: P34
Lomaspilis marginata
Clouded Border
Concise Guide: P52
Lomographa bimaculata
White-
Concise Guide: P72
Panolis flammea
Pine Beauty
Concise Guide: P112
Lycia hirtaria
Brindled Beauty
Concise Guide: P60
Agrotis ipsilon
Dark Sword-
Concise Guide: P100
Ptilodon capucina
Coxcomb Prominent
Concise Guide: P84
Hydriomena impluviata
May Highflyer
Concise Guide: P36
Cucullia chamomillae
Chamomile Shark
Concise Guide: P116
Phragmatobia fuliginosa
Ruby Tiger
Concise Guide: P94
Melanchra pisi
Broom Moth
Concise Guide: P108
Sideridis albicolon
White Colon
Concise Guide: P108
Plagodis dolabraria
Scorched Wing
Concise Guide: P54
Panemeria tenebrata
Small Yellow Underwing
Concise Guide: P142
Aethalura punctulata
Grey Birch
Concise Guide: P70
Eupithecia subfuscata
Grey Pug
Concise Guide: P46
Drymonia ruficornis
Lunar Marbled Brown
Concise Guide: P86
Watsonalla binaria
Oak Hook-
Concise Guide: P18