Scarborough Field Naturalists’ Society
With
Scarborough Wildlife
Common Macro Moths -
This page shows the commonest macro moths recorded in Yorkshire in August. 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.
Noctua pronuba
Large Yellow Underwing
Concise Guide: P102
Noctua comes
Lesser Yellow Underwing
Concise Guide: P102
Mesapamea secalis agg.
Common Rustic agg.
Concise Guide: P134
Noctua janthe
Lesser Broad-
Concise Guide: P102
Apamea monoglypha
Dark Arches
Concise Guide: P130
Xestia xanthographa
Square-
Concise Guide: P106
Autographa gamma
Silver Y
Concise Guide: P146
Luperina testacea
Flounced Rustic
Concise Guide: P134
Peribatodes rhomboidaria
Willow Beauty
Concise Guide: P64
Xestia sexstrigata
Six-
Concise Guide: P106
Amphipyra tragopoginis
Mouse Moth
Concise Guide: P128
Diarsia rubi
Small Square-
Concise Guide: P104
Mythimna impura
Smoky Wainscot
Concise Guide: P114
Xestia c-
Setaceous Hebrew Character
Concise Guide: P106
Hydraecia micacea
Rosy Rustic
Concise Guide: P136
Epirrhoe alternata
Common Carpet
Concise Guide: P30
Idaea aversata
Riband Wave
Concise Guide: P26
Xanthorhoe fluctuata fluctuata
Garden Carpet
Concise Guide: P28
Agrotis puta
Shuttle-
Concise Guide: P100
Phlogophora meticulosa
Angle Shades
Concise Guide: P128
Cosmia trapezina
Dun-
Concise Guide: P130
Ochropleura plecta
Flame Shoulder
Concise Guide: P100
Mythimna pallens
Common Wainscot
Concise Guide: P114
Idaea dimidiata
Single-
Concise Guide: P26
Euproctis similis
Yellow-
Concise Guide: P88
Hepialus sylvina
Orange Swift
Concise Guide: P6
Chloroclysta truncata
Common Marbled Carpet
Concise Guide: P34
Cryphia domestica
Marbled Beauty
Concise Guide: P126
Discestra trifolii
Nutmeg
Concise Guide: P108
Noctua interjecta caliginosa
Least Yellow Underwing
Concise Guide: P102
Eremobia ochroleuca
Dusky Sallow
Concise Guide: P134
Cilix glaucata
Chinese Character
Concise Guide: P18
Mesoligia literosa
Rosy Minor
Concise Guide: P132
Agrotis exclamationis
Heart and Dart
Concise Guide: P100
Mamestra brassicae
Cabbage Moth
Concise Guide: P108
Ecliptopera silaceata
Small Phoenix
Concise Guide: P32
Eilema lurideola
Common Footman
Concise Guide: P90
Atethmia centrago
Centre-
Concise Guide: P124
Noctua fimbriata
Broad-
Concise Guide: P102
Ennomos alniaria
Canary-
Concise Guide: P56
Hypena proboscidalis
Snout
Concise Guide: P152
Hydriomena furcata
July Highflyer
Concise Guide: P36
Opisthograptis luteolata
Brimstone Moth
Concise Guide: P54
Phragmatobia fuliginosa
Ruby Tiger
Concise Guide: P94
Abraxas grossulariata
Magpie Moth
Concise Guide: P52
Xanthorhoe spadicearia
Red Twin-
Concise Guide: P28
Mythimna ferrago
Clay
Concise Guide: P114
Agrotis puta puta
Shuttle-
Concise Guide: P100
Plusia festucae
Gold Spot
Concise Guide: P146
Xestia baja
Dotted Clay
Concise Guide: P106
Timandra comae
Blood-
Concise Guide: P24
Crocallis elinguaria
Scalloped Oak
Concise Guide: P58
Lacanobia oleracea
Bright-
Concise Guide: P110
Pheosia tremula
Swallow Prominent
Concise Guide: P84
Selenia dentaria
Early Thorn
Concise Guide: P56
Xanthorhoe ferrugata
Dark-
Concise Guide: P28
Laothoe populi
Poplar Hawk-
Concise Guide: P78
Diachrysia chrysitis
Burnished Brass
Concise Guide: P146
Mesapamea secalis
Common Rustic
Concise Guide: P134
Xanthorhoe designata
Flame Carpet
Concise Guide: P28
Pheosia gnoma
Lesser Swallow Prominent
Concise Guide: P84
Hoplodrina alsines
Uncertain
Concise Guide: P140
Eupithecia centaureata
Lime-
Concise Guide: P44
Cerapteryx graminis
Antler Moth
Concise Guide: P112
Notodonta dromedarius
Iron Prominent
Concise Guide: P84
Idaea biselata
Small Fan-
Concise Guide: P26
Mesoligia furuncula
Cloaked Minor
Concise Guide: P132
Amphipyra berbera svenssoni
Svensson's Copper Underwing
Concise Guide: P128
Xanthia icteritia
Sallow
Concise Guide: P124
Rivula sericealis
Straw Dot
Concise Guide: P150