Scarborough Field Naturalists’ Society
With
Scarborough Wildlife
Common Macro Moths -
This page shows the commonest macro moths recorded in Yorkshire in September. 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
Xestia c-
Setaceous Hebrew Character
Concise Guide: P106
Noctua comes
Lesser Yellow Underwing
Concise Guide: P102
Phlogophora meticulosa
Angle Shades
Concise Guide: P128
Omphaloscelis lunosa
Lunar Underwing
Concise Guide: P102
Autographa gamma
Silver Y
Concise Guide: P146
Hydraecia micacea
Rosy Rustic
Concise Guide: P136
Xestia xanthographa
Square-
Concise Guide: P106
Agrochola litura
Brown-
Concise Guide: P122
Amphipyra tragopoginis
Mouse Moth
Concise Guide: P128
Mythimna pallens
Common Wainscot
Concise Guide: P114
Chloroclysta truncata
Common Marbled Carpet
Concise Guide: P34
Agrochola lychnidis
Beaded Chestnut
Concise Guide: P122
Xanthorhoe fluctuata fluctuata
Garden Carpet
Concise Guide: P28
Gortyna flavago
Frosted Orange
Concise Guide: P136
Luperina testacea
Flounced Rustic
Concise Guide: P134
Paradrina clavipalpis
Pale Mottled Willow
Concise Guide: P140
Ennomos alniaria
Canary-
Concise Guide: P56
Diarsia rubi
Small Square-
Concise Guide: P104
Lithophane leautieri hesperica
Blair's Shoulder-
Concise Guide: P118
Allophyes oxyacanthae
Green-
Concise Guide: P118
Xanthia togata
Pink-
Concise Guide: P124
Hypena proboscidalis
Snout
Concise Guide: P152
Atethmia centrago
Centre-
Concise Guide: P124
Thera obeliscata
Grey Pine Carpet
Concise Guide: P34
Peribatodes rhomboidaria
Willow Beauty
Concise Guide: P64
Mesapamea secalis agg.
Common Rustic agg.
Concise Guide: P134
Mythimna impura
Smoky Wainscot
Concise Guide: P114
Agrotis ipsilon
Dark Sword-
Concise Guide: P100
Eugnorisma glareosa
Autumnal Rustic
Concise Guide: P104
Amphipyra berbera svenssoni
Svensson's Copper Underwing
Concise Guide: P128
Ennomos fuscantaria
Dusky Thorn
Concise Guide: P56
Agrochola lota
Red-
Concise Guide: P122
Xanthia icteritia
Sallow
Concise Guide: P124
Catocala nupta
Red Underwing
Concise Guide: P148
Apamea monoglypha
Dark Arches
Concise Guide: P130
Agrotis segetum
Turnip Moth
Concise Guide: P98
Noctua fimbriata
Broad-
Concise Guide: P102
Diachrysia chrysitis
Burnished Brass
Concise Guide: P146
Agrotis puta
Shuttle-
Concise Guide: P100
Aporophyla nigra
Black Rustic
Concise Guide: P118
Rhizedra lutosa
Large Wainscot
Concise Guide: P138
Polymixis lichenea
Feathered Ranunculus
Concise Guide: P120
Chortodes pygmina
Small Wainscot
Concise Guide: P134
Noctua janthe
Lesser Broad-
Concise Guide: P102
Ochropleura plecta
Flame Shoulder
Concise Guide: P100
Orgyia antiqua
Vapourer
Concise Guide: P86
Dryobotodes eremita
Brindled Green
Concise Guide: P120
Colostygia pectinataria
Green Carpet
Concise Guide: P36
Chloroclysta siterata
Red-
Concise Guide: P34
Rivula sericealis
Straw Dot
Concise Guide: P150
Lacanobia oleracea
Bright-
Concise Guide: P110
Agrochola macilenta
Yellow-
Concise Guide: P122
Timandra comae
Blood-
Concise Guide: P24
Idaea seriata
Small Dusty Wave
Concise Guide: P26
Agrotis puta puta
Shuttle-
Concise Guide: P100
Xanthia aurago
Barred Sallow
Concise Guide: P124
Agrochola circellaris
Brick
Concise Guide: P122
Thera britannica
Spruce Carpet
Concise Guide: P34
Plusia festucae
Gold Spot
Concise Guide: P146
Xanthia gilvago
Dusky-
Concise Guide: P124
Dichonia aprilina
Merveille du Jour
Concise Guide: P120
Axylia putris
Flame
Concise Guide: P100
Epirrhoe alternata
Common Carpet
Concise Guide: P30
Nonagria typhae
Bulrush Wainscot
Concise Guide: P138
Chloroclysta citrata
Dark Marbled Carpet
Concise Guide: P34
Eulithis testata
Chevron
Concise Guide: P32
Opisthograptis luteolata
Brimstone Moth
Concise Guide: P54
Amphipoea oculea agg.
Ear Moth agg.
Concise Guide: P136
Macroglossum stellatarum
Humming-
Concise Guide: P80