PLEASE NOTE: Our Website is currently "under construction". Thank you for bearing with us !!
Please let us know if you would like to get involved in an organised group "moth-watch"....
Seeing and recording moths while they are being attracted to light-traps / and also "sugar" is great fun, and if you are a lover of moths as well as butterflies, and want to make new friends with like-minded people, then we would definitely recommend joining in with an organised group to get involved with this very enjoyable and mindful activity !
BUTTERFLIES :
PAPILIONOIDEA (- LATREILLE, 1802):
Family: Pieridae
Orange-Tip - Anthocharis cardamines
Brimstone - Gonepteryx rhamni
Green-veined White - Pieris napi
Small White - Pieris rapae
Large ( Cabbage) White - Pieris brassicae
Clouded Yellow - Colias croceus (- in 1982, 1983 and 1996 only.)
Family: Lycaenidae
Holly Blue
Common Blue
Small ( Little) Blue (- 1983, 1984 - several confirmed but then this species disappeared, probably due to nearby destruction of a large meadow to be "developed" as from in 1984. )
Small Copper
Family: Nymphalidae
Red Admiral
Painted Lady
Small Tortoiseshell
Peacock
Comma
(- Subfamily: Satyrinae )
Speckled Wood
Meadow Brown
Gatekeeper
Ringlet (- Every year, since 2006. )
Wall (- 1983, 1984- 1986, then disappeared. )
Small Heath
Family: Hesperiidae
Large Skipper
Small Skipper
- BUTTERFLIES TAXONOMY NOTE: The superfamily Papilionoidea represents nearly / almost all of the entire number of scientifically described 'true butterfly' families / and species around the world - except for the neo-tropical "moth-like" Hedylidae / Hedyloidea - found in Central / and South America. (- In the "old" text / arrangement - the 'Skipper' butterflies were already placed in a seperate superfamily, the 'Hesperoidea', while very interestingly the mostly nocturnally flying 'Hedylidae/ Hedyloidea' were for a long time actually considered to be moths of the family Geometridae. There is still a lot of conflicting information online about the aforementioned taxonomy of "true" butterflies. )
MOTHS :
NOCTUOIDEA:
Family: Nolidae
(- Subfamily: Nolinae )
Short-Cloaked Moth - Nola cucullatella ( Linnaeus, 1758)
Family: Eribidae
(- Subfamily: Arctiinae - 'Tiger Moths' - Leach, 1815 )
(- Tribe: Arctiini - Leach, 1815 )
(- Subtribe: Arctiina - Leach, 1815 )
Garden Tiger - Arctia caja ( Linnaeus, 1758) (- Including being reared from larvae, so-called "woolly-bear" caterpillars - in 1984/'85. )
Scarlet Tiger - Callimorpha dominula ( Linnaeus, 1758) (- 2021 only ! )
Cinnabar - Tyria jacobaeae ( Linnaeus, 1758) (- 1983, onwards - including often rearing from larvae. - New Photos - including of the larvae - coming soon ! - See already existing photo. )
Ruby Tiger (- including reared from larvae - adult moth seen emerging even as late as in November. )
Buff Ermine (- including reared from larvae. )
White Ermine
Common Footman (- including reared from larvae, in 1984. )
(- Subfamily: Lymantriinae - 'Tussock Moths' )
The Vapourer - Orgyia antiqua ( Linnaeus, 1758)
Yellow-Tail / Gold-Tail - Euproctis similis ( Fuessly, 1775)
(- Subfamily: Catocalinae )
Red-Underwing - Catocala nupta ( Linnaeus, 1767) (- New record - 05/ 09/ 2023 ! - New Photo(s) coming soon! - See existing photo. ) (- formerly, in the 'Noctuidae' - old text/ field-guides....)
(- Subfamily: Eribinae )
Mother-Shipton - Euclidia mi ( Clerck, 1759) (- 2006 only. )
(- Subfamily: Scoliopteryginae )
The Herald - Scoliopteryx libatrix ( Linnaeus, 1758) (- Our very first record of this beautiful moth species, dates back to in 1984. A common species here, as because of the presence of willow (Salix). We have probably actually recorded this species during most months of the year - as because it hibernates as an adult moth.
This is another moth species that, in the "old" text / field-guides, was placed within the family Noctuidae - the moth family that, for a very long time, held the title of being by far, the largest family of Lepidoptera in the whole world ! These days, now that title is held by the family Eribidae !
Family: Noctuidae
(- Subfamily: Noctuinae / Agrotinae - 'Owlet moths' / 'Cutworm moths' / & kin )
(- Tribe: Noctuini - Latreille, 1809 )
Large / European Yellow-Underwing - Noctua pronuba ( Linnaeus, 1758) (- Type-species of this moth family. - Of course, this very common / and familiar moth species around the world, is included in our own very first moth records - dating as far back as in 1981 / '82. )
Lesser Yellow-Underwing - Noctua comes ( Hübner, 1813 )
Lesser Broad-Bordered Yellow-Underwing - Noctua janthe ( Borkhausen, 1792)
Least Yellow-Underwing - Noctua interjecta ( Hübner, 1803)
Broad-Bordered Yellow-Underwing - Noctua fimbriata ( Schreber, 1759) (- Rare ? - previously in September 2005; Now, a New record - 27/ 07/ 23, 21:30 - female - feeding on Buddleia ! - Photo coming soon ! )
(- Tribe: Agrotini - Rambur, 1848 )
Heart-And-Dart - Agrotis exclamationis ( Linnaeus, 1758)
Shuttle-shaped Dart - Agrotis puta ( Hübner, 1803)
Turnip Moth - Agrotis segetum ( Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775)
Garden Dart
Double Dart
Square-Spot Rustic
Six-Striped Rustic
Small Square-Spot
Double Square-Spot
Ingrailed Clay
Setaceous Hebrew Character
Dotted Rustic
Flame-Shoulder
True-Lover's Knot (- Rare - in 1990 only ! - MV-Light-trap. )
(- Subfamily: Hadeninae )
Dot - Melanchra persicariae (Linnaeus, 1761)
Cabbage Moth - Mamestra brassicae (Linnaeus, 1758)
Bright-Line Brown-Eye - Lacanobia oleracea (Linnaeus, 1758)
Pale-shouldered Brocade - Lacanobia thalassina (Hufnagel, 1766)
Light Brocade - Lacanobia w-latinum (Hufnagel, 1766)
Broom - Ceramica pisi (Linnaeus, 1758) (- Including being reared from larvae - the caterpillars either being green / or brown with distinctive yellow stripes running all the way along their body. Even being found feeding on herbs, such as on mint. )
Varied Coronet - Hadena compta ( Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775) (- As because of the presence of the main caterpillar foodplant of this species - Sweet william (Dianthus barbatus)
Tawny Shears - Hadena perplexa ( Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775)
Broad-barred White - Hecatera bicolorata ( Hufnagel, 1766) (- Our very first record of this lovely moth species was back in 1984, at about the end of July - actually at a camp site in Prestatyn, North Wales ! - It had been attracted to a light on the wall of the shower/ toilet-block. However, this species has since appeared here, at our current home-base - being attracted to a M.V. light-trap, in about 1991. )
Grey Arches - Polia nebulosa (Hufnagel, 1766)
Hebrew Character - Orthosia gothica (Linnaeus, 1758)
Clouded Drab - Orthosia incerta (Hufnagel, 1766)
Common Quaker - Orthosia cerasi (Fabricius, 1775) (- Of late, this species - being very easily attracted to any lights - has repeatedly been recorded here as early as in February ! - including 2023 - Because of climate-change ?? )
Feathered Gothic - Tholera decimalis (Poda, 1761)
Common Wainscot - Mythimna pallens (Linnaeus, 1758)
The Clay - Mythimna ferrago (Fabricius, 1787)
Shoulder-striped Wainscot - Leucania comma (Linnaeus, 1761)
(- Subfamily: Amphipyrinae )
Common Rustic
Tawny-Marbled Minor
Rosy Minor
Cloaked Minor
Straw Underwing
Rosy Rustic
Flounced Rustic
Flame
Angle-Shades
Small Angle-Shades
Sallow
Centre-Barred Sallow
Old Lady / Black-Underwing - Mormo maura (- Every year, since 2009 - very common here, as because of being near a running brook - a habitat this species seems to prefer. Latest we have ever recorded - September 30, 2012 - literally only a few hours from October, 1st ! New 2023 records of roosting moths in exact same hidden location - including as follows: 24/ 07; 26/ 07 - x2 moths; 27/ 07/ 23 - x2 moths; 04/ 08/ 23 - New Photos coming soon ! )
Gothic
Copper-Underwing
Mouse
Red-Lined Quaker (- 1989, 1990 - in October. )
Brindled Green
Lunar Underwing
Brown-Spot Pinion
Beaded Chestnut
Chestnut (- including adult moths being seen in December/ Winter, when mild weather - easily attracted to lights. )
Satellite
(- Subfamily: Xyleninae )
Dark Arches - Apamea monoglypha (Hufnagel, 1766)
Light Arches - Apamea lithoxylaea ( Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775)
Rustic Shoulder-knot - Apamea sordens ( Hufnagel, 1766) (- Mostly, in May / June, 1988, '89 and 1990. )
Slender Brindle - Apamea scolopacina ( Esper, 1788)
Blair's Shoulder-knot - Lithophane leautieri ( Boisduval, 1829 )
Pale Pinion - Lithophane socia ( Hufnagel, 1766)
Grey Shoulder-knot - Lithophane ornitopus ( Dadd, 1911)
Red Sword-grass - Xylena vetusta ( Hübner, 1813)
The Dun-Bar - Cosmia trapezina (Linnaeus, 1758) (- Including being reared from larvae, in 1989 - they are cannibalistic ! )
Mottled Rustic - Caradrina morpheus ( Hufnagel, 1766) (- Of this group of "little brown moths" - this species, along with 'The Uncertain' moth ( below) are the ones that have tended to be the most common in this locality. On some mothing night occasions, we have known these species to arrive at the M.V. light-traps in their hundreds ! They also make a great topic of conversation / or debate, at the local based Natural History Society meetings. )
The Uncertain - Hoplodrina octogenaria ( Goeze, 1781)
The Rustic - Hoplodrina blanda ( Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775)
Vine's Rustic - Hoplodrina ambigua ( Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775)
Treble Lines - Charanyca trigrammica ( Hufnagel, 1766)
(- Subfamily: Psaphidinae )
Green-Brindled Crescent - Allophyes oxyacanthae (Linnaeus, 1758)
Early Grey - Xylocampa areola ( Esper, 1789)
(- Subfamily: Cuculliinae )
Mullein - Cucullia verbasci ( Linnaeus, 1758) (- Including being reared from larvae, that were found to be feeding actually on Buddleia - the life stage at which have most commonly found them; - following their pupation, the adult moths emerging as early as in February - March. ) (-- Photos coming soon ! )
(- Subfamily: Metoponiinae )
Small Yellow-Underwing - Panemeria tenebrata (Scopoli, 1763)
(- Subfamily: Acronictinae )
Grey Dagger - Acronicta psi (Linnaeus, 1758) (- Generally speaking, this species has always been common in this location - and confirmed as definitely being of this species, and not the closely-related 'Dark Dagger' ( A. tridens) from the colourful appearance of the caterpillars. We have often spotted them on rose ( Rosaceae) - on both wild / rambling and cultivated varieties. )
The Sycamore - Acronicta aceris ( Linnaeus, 1758) (- Caterpillar Photos coming soon ! )
Knot Grass - Acronicta rumicis (Linnaeus, 1758) (- Including being reared from larvae, in 1984. Confirmed as being of this species, from the colourful appearance of the caterpillar. )
Poplar Grey - Subacronicta megacephala ( Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775)
Marbled Beauty - Bryophila domestica (Hufnagel, 1766)
(- Subfamily: Plusiinae )
Burnished Brass
Silver-Y
Beautiful Golden-Y
Plain Golden-Y
Gold-Spot
Golden Plusia
Spectacle
(- Subfamily: Dilobinae )
Figure-of-Eight - Diloba caeruleocephala ( Linnaeus, 1758)
Family: Notodontidae
Iron Prominent (- including bred livestock in 2009, through all of the life-cycle stages - at this location caterpillar foodplant: Willow. )
Coxcomb Prominent
Pebble Prominent
Buff-Tip
Puss Moth
Family: Geometridae
(- Subfamily: Larentiinae )
Winter Moth - Operophtera brumata ( Linnaeus, 1758)
November Moth - Epirrita dilutata ( Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775)
Autumnal Moth - Epirrita autumnata ( Borkhausen, 1794)
Garden Carpet - Xanthorhoe fluctuata ( Linnaeus, 1758) (- Our very first ever moth records include, of course, this very familiar and common species - dating as far back as to in the summers of 1981 / and '82 ! )
Silver-ground Carpet - Xanthorhoe montanata ( Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775)
Dark-Barred Twin-spot Carpet - Xanthorhoe ferrugata ( Clerck, 1759)
Red Twin-spot Carpet - Xanthorhoe spadicearia (Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775)
Green Carpet - Colostygia pectinataria ( Knoch, 1781)
Beech-Green Carpet - Colostygia olivata ( Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775) (- 2015 and 2021 ! - Photos coming soon ! )
Red-Green Carpet - Chloroclysta siterata ( Hufnagel, 1767) (- Autumn 2016, onwards. Photos coming soon ! )
Juniper Carpet
Spruce Carpet
Common Marbled Carpet
Common Carpet
Yellow-Shell
Barred-Yellow
Spinach
Small Phoenix
Small Rivulet - Perizoma alchemillata ( Linnaeus, 1758)
Sandy Carpet - Perizoma flavofasciata ( Thunberg, 1792)
Shoulder-Stripe
Shaded Broad-bar - Scotopteryx chenopodiata (Linnaeus, 1758) (- This is another moth species that, at first, ( as children) we very commonly seen on overgrown wasteland, near the back of a camp site - in Prestatyn, North Wales - during the early/ to mid-1980s. But then, by around in the early-1990s it was starting to come to the M.V.-light here, at this locality - and of course, so a very welcomed sight ! )
Common Pug
Oak-Tree Pug
Tawny-Speckled Pug
Lime-Speck Pug
Bordered Pug
Foxglove Pug
Green Pug
V-Pug
Double-Striped Pug
(- Subfamily: Sterrhinae / Idaeinae )
Riband Wave - Idaea aversata (Linnaeus, 1758)
Small-Dusty Wave -
Single-Dotted Wave -
Small Fan-Footed Wave -
Blood-Vein -
Small Blood-Vein -
The Vestal - Rhodometra sacraria (Linnaeus, 1767) (- In 1986, only ! - This is actually a migrant species, not resident in this country. The one that was spotted, which at the time came out from hiding in a privet hedge, would have been one of only several hundred that had in that year arrived from the continent - scattered throughout the whole country. )
(- Subfamily: Ennominae )
Swallow-Tailed Moth - Ourapteryx sambucaria (Linnaeus, 1758) (- This beautiful and common larger Geometrid species we usually encounter every year here, likely as because of the presence of ivy (Hedera helix) - the preferred caterpillar foodplant. Including, being reared from ovae / larvae - several times - since in the early-1980s. Very interestingly and strangely, this species shows a tendency to produce dwarfed individuals of a partial autumnal second brood, if the weather is unusually or unseasonably warm ! We observed this back in both 2002, and more recently in about October, 2016 - on that occasion one unexpectedly came to light ! )
Brimstone Moth
Common White Wave
Light Emerald
Magpie
Clouded-Border
Scorched Wing
Lilac Beauty
Scalloped Hazel
Early Thorn
Canary-Shouldered Thorn
September Thorn
Feathered Thorn
Orange Moth (- attracted to light in bathroom, through open window - moth-trapping night, July 1983 only ! )
Straw Belle
Peppered Moth
Waved Umber
Mottled Umber
Dotted-Border
Spring Usher
Early Moth
March Moth
(- Subfamily: Geometrinae )
Common Emerald
Little Emerald
Family: Drepanidae
(- Subfamily: Thyatirinae )
Peach-Blossom (- 1988 only ! )
Buff-Arches
(- Subfamily: Drepaninae )
Chinese Character
Pebble Hook-Tip
Oak Hook-Tip
Family: Lasiocampidae
Drinker
Lackey
Oak-Eggar
Family: Sphingidae
Hummingbird Hawk-Moth
Elephant Hawk-Moth
Lime Hawk-Moth
Eyed Hawk-Moth
Poplar Hawk-Moth
Privet Hawk-Moth (- 1983/ 1984 - Bred from livestock, only....)
Family: Sesiidae
(- Subfamily: Sesiinae )
Currant Clearwing - Synanthedon tipuliformis ( Clerck, 1759) (- 1988, only. As because of the presence of a row of blackcurrant bushes (Ribes). Although our only record for this species / family, like other members of this micromoth family, being a wasp-mimic it was possibly overlooked. The one spotted was newly-emerged, and so would have previously developed as a caterpillar living internally on the shoots of one of the blackcurrant bushes - proving of the presence of this species already in this location. )
Family: Alucitidae
Twenty-plumed Moth - Alucita hexadactyla (Linnaeus, 1758) (- This pretty and very unusual little moth has been seen and recorded here at almost any time of the year - including appearing indoors even in the middle of winter, as they pass the winter as an adult moth. They have been commonly seen here in this location for a great many years, as because of the presence of Honeysuckle ( Lonicera) - the foodplant of the larvae. Unlike the English name, the scientific name - meaning "six-fingered" - is a lot more accurate, as because each wing is separated into six "plumes". )
Family: Pyralidae / Crambidae
(- Subfamily: Pyralinae )
Meal Moth - Pyralis farinalis ( Linnaeus, 1758) (- New records for 2023 ! )
Gold-Fringe / Gold Triangle / Clover Webworm - Hypsopygia costalis (Fabricius, 1775 )
Large Tabby - Aglossa pinguinalis ( Linnaeus, 1758)
(- Subfamily: Galleriinae )
Bee Moth - Aphomia sociella (Linnaeus, 1758)
(- Subfamily: Crambinae )
Agriphila tristella ( Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775)
Agriphila geniculea ( Haworth, 1811)
(- Subfamily: Pyraustinae )
Mint Moth - Pyrausta aurata ( Scopoli, 1763) (- Confirmed as being of this species - as because of the presence of mint ( Mentha).
Small Magpie - Anania hortulata ( Linnaeus, 1758)
Elderberry-Pearl - Eurrhypara / Anania coronata (Hufnagel, 1767)
(- Subfamily: Spilomelinae )
Mother-of-Pearl - Pleuroptya ruralis ( Scopoli, 1763)
Udea lutealis ( Hübner, 1809)
Udea prunalis ( Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775)
Udea olivalis ( Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775)
Rush Veneer - Nomophila noctuella ( Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775)
Box-Tree Moth - Cydalima perspectalis ( Walker, 1859 ) (- First appearance here in 2022 - when a mating pair shown up - one of the pair, of the dark form, had died - but was, very oddly, still attached on its mate; New records in 2023 - including 28/ 07/ 2023 - seen flying when dusk. )
This is a visually striking species originally from Asia - very likely it has been accidentally / inadvertently brought into this country, as well as in central Europe, with imported Buxus plants. Since the very first records back in 2007 in Kent, and 2008 in Weybridge, Surrey, this species has been found to have become established in London and the south-east - where it is common and widespread. At a considerable rate it is also spreading northwards. Unfortunately, this is considered a pest species of ornamental Box - Buxus.
Family: Tortricidae
(- Subfamily: Tortricinae )
Green-Oak Tortrix - Tortrix viridana ( Linnaeus, 1758) (- Although, the very first record we have of this common species is of my own childhood in July, 1983 - when "hundreds" were seen while on a primary-school visit to the local woods - this species has also, occasionally, appeared in this locality.
Garden Rose Tortrix - Acleris variegana ( Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775)
Red-Barred Tortrix - Ditula angustiorana ( Haworth, 1811) (- The very first moth records we have, definitely include this species ! It was very common here in this location during the early / to mid-1980s, and still common in the mid-1990s. In around June / July, 1983 / '84 literally "hundreds" of them would be seen flying, in the sunshine as well as at night. They seemed to have a preference for hedge plants / trees, such as privet and yew - where would find their many caterpillars - including a very fond childhood memory of myself finding them inside rolled privet leaves, in December, 1982. We still see it here every so often. (- New photos coming soon ! )
Carnation Tortrix - Cacoecimorpha pronubana (Hübner, 1799) (- This is a distinctive species, with bright-orange hindwings thinly bordered with black. Our first records for this moth appeared and logged in about 1988, onwards. It was a very common sight to see them flying about in sunshine - during peak periods - say, in the morning and later in the afternoon. I remember thinking that with their zig-zagging flight, they looked much like tiny versions of the 'Vapourer' moth !
They appeared to have at least two generations annually - in the late-spring around May - June, and then later in the year in late-summer / early-autumn, around August - September, even as late as October. We were definitely still recording this species in 1995 / and 1996, and I think also up until in around 2006 - but since then it seems to have disappeared from this location. In Britain, this species was first recorded in 1905 - on the south coast. )
Great Tortrix / Great Twist Moth - Choristoneura hebenstreitella ( Müller, 1764) (- New Photos coming soon ! )
Timothy Tortrix - Aphelia paleana ( Hübner, 1793)
Yellow-spot Tortrix - Pseudargyrotoza conwagana (Fabricius, 1775)
(- Subfamily: Olethreutinae )
Dark Strawberry Tortrix / Common Marble - Celypha lacunana, (- formerly - Olethreutes lacunana ) ( Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775) (- Very common / and widespread ! - This is probably one of the most commonly that have recorded - both in the daytime as well as at night. )
Marbled Orchard Tortrix - Hedya nubiferana (Haworth, 1811) [- Synonyms: dimidoalba]
Apple Codling Moth - Cydia pomonella ( Linnaeus, 1758)
Pea Moth - Cydia nigricana ( Fabricius, 1794)
Broad-blotch Drill / Oxeye Daisy Tortrix - Dichrorampha alpinana (Treitschke, 1830) (- Only confirmed as of being this species, as because of seen flying near / the presence of Oxeye daisy ( Leucanthemum vulgare).
(- Tortricidae Footnote:
This is actually a very difficult micro-moth family, when trying to properly identify species. Even with our huge archive - including of now 40+ years of recording Lepidoptera, there must be a number of moths from this family that even today, we do not exactly know what species they are - but just loosely record them with a written description / including photo(s), where possible. So we are only including positively identified ones, here ! )
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
- PLEASE NOTE: This is very time-consuming, all of the scientific names are being added gradually when time permits - all of them will be added soon ! ....
- Please excuse any spelling / data errors or mistakes, that you may find on this page. There appears to be an awful lot of conflicting / and unreliable information on the internet regarding the scientific classification taxon of the lepidoptera - particularly of moths. Some of the classification - such as, the way it has been written online - we do not necessarily agree with. Utmost effort and research is currently being done here to try to ensure that these listed species are shown as accurate as possible !
GUIDE TO PHOTOS:
1. - Orange-Tip
2. - Holly Blue
3. - Cinnabar Moth
4. - Red Underwing
5. - Copper Underwing
6.- Eyed Hawk-Moth
COMING SOON:
A Complete / Total List of Recorded Species - with photos / illustrations - including at other sites - as well as at this one ! Such as recorded in North Wales / and also at properly organised group moth-watching evenings/ nights in South Yorkshire/ Derbyshire/ Nottinghamshire - including with the 'Sorby Natural History Society' charity - not forgetting the absolutely amazing "Millennium Moth Night" at 'Lindrick Dale Quarry' - on a warm and rainy late-evening in July 2000.
With Photos / & illustrations - from the archives - coming soon !
(- Editor - Please Add the O.S. Grid-Reference number for this specific location. Thanks ! )
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Page Description:
Nature: "What We're Doing for Butterflies (- and Moths ! )" Small Nature-Reserve Fundraising - Please Help Us! Mini Wild Meadow - Wild Flowers for Pollinators.
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