Heart and Dart (Agrotis exclamationis)
Chesterfield
A very common moth almost anywhere in Britain, this typical brown Agrotis species can be identified by its bold, black dart and brown heart-shaped marks on the forewings.
Shuttle-shaped Dart (Agrotis puta puta)
Chesterfield
Calver
This very common species resembles a piece of bark when at rest. Its common name comes from the pale oval on the forewing, which is pointed at both ends to resemble a weaver's shuttle. This is more obvious in the second photo.
The Shuttle-shaped Dart can be seen almost anywhere in England, but is absent from much of Wales and nearly all of Scotland.
The Shuttle-shaped Dart can be seen almost anywhere in England, but is absent from much of Wales and nearly all of Scotland.
Flame (Axylia putris)
Flame Shoulder (Ochropleura plecta)
Chesterfield
Calver
A very common species across most of Britain, the Flame Shoulder is easy to recognise from the bold, pale streak along the leading edge of the forewing.
The only similar species, Radford's Flame Shoulder (O.leucogaster) does not occur in Derbyshire, but is regularly recorded from scattered sites along the south coast of England.
The only similar species, Radford's Flame Shoulder (O.leucogaster) does not occur in Derbyshire, but is regularly recorded from scattered sites along the south coast of England.
Large Yellow Underwing
Calver
desc
Lesser Yellow Underwing
Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing
Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing (Noctua janthe)
Calver
Chesterfield
Perhaps the most beautifully-marked of the Yellow Underwings, this large species has a delicate pattern of cloudy purple and grey blotches. It lacks the clear cross-lines of other Noctua species. The only similar moth is Langmaid's Yellow Underwing, which is a rare immigrant from continental Europe. This species is very, very similar but has a slightly different black border on the hindwing.
N.janthe is very common in Britain, emerging in late July.
N.janthe is very common in Britain, emerging in late July.
Least Yellow Underwing (Noctua interjecta)
Calver
Autumnal Rustic (Eugnorisma glareosa)
Calver
Ingrailed Clay (Diarsia mendica ssp.mendica)
Calver
Chesterfield
A very common moth across Britain, the Ingrailed Clay is the most widespread of Britain's five Diarsia species.
The three photos here show how variable the species is. Two features that are usually easy to see are the black spot between the pale oval mark and the inner edge of the forewing (this is barely visible in the first photo, though!), and the pale outline to the kidney mark.
Calver (steve)
The three photos here show how variable the species is. Two features that are usually easy to see are the black spot between the pale oval mark and the inner edge of the forewing (this is barely visible in the first photo, though!), and the pale outline to the kidney mark.
Calver (steve)
Small Square-spot (Diarsia rubi)
Calver
This close cousin of the Ingrailed Clay is less variable and easier to identify. It is noticeably pinkish-brown in colour and has a dark-edged third cross band, Like the Ingrailed Clay, it has a black spot between the oval and inner edge of the forewing.
Setaceous Hebrew Character (Xestia c-nigrum)
Calver
This common species is easily-seen in the second half of summer. Its most distinctive feature is the pale pinkish triangular blotch joined to a bold black diagonal shape (which doesn't especially resemble any letter in the Hebrew alphabet!).
Britain has eleven Xestia species in all, roughly half of which are common and widespread.
Britain has eleven Xestia species in all, roughly half of which are common and widespread.
Double Square-spot (Xestia triangulum)
Calver
This easily-recognised moth is one of the other common Xestia species, and can be seen throughout Britain.
Only the Triple-spotted Clay (X.ditrapezium) is similar, but that species is darker, has a brown hindwing, rather than grey, and narrower forewings.
Only the Triple-spotted Clay (X.ditrapezium) is similar, but that species is darker, has a brown hindwing, rather than grey, and narrower forewings.
Square-spot Rustic (Xestia xanthographa)
Calver
The common and scientific names both signify the key features of this common lowland moth: the markings are yellow and the kidney mark is distinctly square, rather than curved.
Green Arches (Anaplectoides prasina)
Chesterfield
The green tinge across the firewings of this intricately-marked species is very distinctive - no other noctuid combines these features in Britain.
The Green Arches is a common species in much of Britain, favouring damp woodland.
The Green Arches is a common species in much of Britain, favouring damp woodland.
Red Chestnut (Cerastis rubricosa)
Calver
Shears (Hada plebeja)
Calver
Named for the diagonal white bands across the forewings, which end in two sharp points next to the abdomen, this common moth is a species of open grassland and heathland.
The ground colour can vary from dark to pale - the individual here is a dark form.
The ground colour can vary from dark to pale - the individual here is a dark form.
Grey Arches (Polia nebulosa)
Calver
Cabbage Moth (Mamestra brassicae)
Calver
Dot Moth (Melanchra persicariae)
Chesterfield
The boldly-contrasting dark grey and white markings make the Dot Moth unmistakable. It is a widespread and common species in southern and central England but is much scarcer further north and in Wales.
Broom Moth
Calver
pale-sh broc?
Bright-line Brown-eye (Mythimna conigera)
Chesterfield
This species is described in the Moths of Wicken Fen NNR section of the site.
Campion (Hadena rivularis)
Calver
Varied Coronet (Hadena compta)
Calver
Marbled Coronet (Hadena confusa)
Chesterfield
Antler Moth (Cerapteryx graminis)
Calver
This common species is described in the Moths of Scotland section of the site.
Feathered Gothic (Tholera decimalis)
Calver
Small Quaker (Orthosia cruda)
Calver
This common species is indeed smaller than the other Quakers and very plainly-marked. The dark kidney-mark is distinctive, as is the fine white cross-line near the trailing edge of the forewings.
The Small Quaker is a woodland species and can be found throughout lowland Britain
The Small Quaker is a woodland species and can be found throughout lowland Britain
Blossom Underwing
check id
Powdered Quaker (Orthosia gracilis)
Calver
Common Quaker (Orthosia cerasi)
Chesterfield
Calver
The pale outlines to the oval and kidney-mark and the pale outer cross-line make this an easy moth to identify.
The Common Quaker is very widespread in Britain, and along with the Hebrew Character (O.gothica), is the most common of our nine resident species.
The Common Quaker is very widespread in Britain, and along with the Hebrew Character (O.gothica), is the most common of our nine resident species.
Twin-spotted Quaker (Orthosia munda)
Probably the easiest of the Quakers to identify (unless the spots are absent), this common species is well-distributed across most of lowland Britain. It is a woodland moth, like most other Orthosia species.
Hebrew Character (Orthosia gothica)
Calver
Chesterfield
Unique among the Orthosia species in Britain, this instantly-recognisable moth is named for the bold black mark on each forewing, which resembles the Hebrew letter 'nun', which is used for our letter 'n'.
No other species resembles this one in Britain. The Setaceous Hebrew Character (Xestia c-nigrum) is only distantly-related and has very different wing patterning.
No other species resembles this one in Britain. The Setaceous Hebrew Character (Xestia c-nigrum) is only distantly-related and has very different wing patterning.
Brown-line Bright-eye (Mythimna conigera)
Calver
Clay (Mythimna ferrago)
Calver
desc
Smoky Wainscot (Mythimna impura)
This common species is described in the Moths of Wicken Fen NNR section of the site.
Common Wainscot (Mythimna pallens)
Mullein (Shargacucullia verbasci)
Lathkill Dale NNR
Deep-brown Dart (Aporophyla lutulenta)
Calver
Black Rustic (Aporophyla nigra)
Pale Pinion (Lithophane hepatica)
Calver
Blair's Shoulder-knot (Lithophane leautieri)
Calver
Red Swordgrass (Xylena vetusta)
Calver
Early Grey (Xylocampa areola)
Chesterfield
Green-brindled Crescent (Allophyes oxyacanthae)
Calver
Merveille du Jour (Dichonia aprilina)
Calver
Grey Chi (Antitype chi)
Calver
Feathered Ranunculus (Polymixis xanthomista)
Calver
Satellite (Eupsilia transversa)
Calver
Chestnut (Conistra vaccini)
+2
Matlock
Red-line Quaker (Agrochola lota)
Calver
Yellow-line Quaker (Agrochola macilenta)
Calver
Brown-spot Pinion (Agrochola litura)
Calver
Centre-barred Sallow (Atethima centrago)
Calver
Lunar Underwing (Omphaloscelis lunosa)
Calver
Orange Sallow (Xanthia citrago)
Calver
Barred Sallow (Xanthia aurago)
Calver
Pink-barred Sallow (Xanthia togata)
Calver
Sallow (Xanthia icteritia)
Calver
Poplar Grey (Acronicta megacephala)
desc
Miller (Acronicta leporina)
+1
Dark / Grey Dagger (Acronicta tridens / psi)
+1
Knotgrass (Acronicta rumicis)
Marbled Beauty (Cryphia domestica)
Chesterfield
Copper Underwing
Svensson's Copper Underwing (Amphipyra berbera ssp.svenssoni)
Calver
Mouse Moth (Amphipyra tragopoginis)
Calver
Old Lady (Mormo maura)
Chesterfield
Straw Underwing (Thalpophila matura)
Calver
Small Angle Shades (Euplexia lucipara)
Chesterfield
Angle Shades (Phlogophora meticulosa)
Dun-bar (Cosmia trapezia)
Calver
link to dry sand?
Dark Arches (Apamea monoglypha)
+1
desc
Light Arches (Apamea lithoxylaea)
Chesterfield
Clouded-bordered Brindle (Apamea crenata)
Calver
Small Clouded Brindle (Apamea unanimis)
Calver
Rustic Shoulder-knot (Apamea sordens)
Chesterfield
Marbled Minor (Oligia strigilis)
Tawny Marbled Minor (Oligia latruncula)
Calver
Common Rustic (Mesapamea secalis)
Calver
Lesser Common Rustic
Calver
Ear Moth (Amphipoea oculea)
Rosy Rustic
Calver
Frosted Orange (Gortyna flavago)
Calver
Large Wainscot
Calver
Uncertain (Hoplodrina alsines)
Calver
Mottled Rustic (Caradrina morpheus)
Calver
Pale Mottled Willow (Paradrina clavipalpis)
Chesterfield
Scarce Silver-lines (Bena bicolorana)
Calver
Green Silver-lines (Pseudoips prasiana)
Calver
Burnished Brass (Diachrysia chrysitis)
Gold Spot (Plusia festucae)
+3
Silver Y (Autographa gamma)
Calver
Beautiful Golden Y (Autographa pulchrina)
+1
Plain Golden Y (Autographa jota)
Calver
Gold Spangle (Autographa bractea)
+2
Dark Spectacle (Abrostola triplasia)
Calver
Spectacle (Abrostola tripartita)
Calver
Blackneck (Lygephila pastinum)
Calver
Herald (Scoliopteryx libatrix)
Chesterfield
Straw Dot (Rivula sericealis)
Calver
Beautiful Snout (Hypena crassalis)
Calver
Snout (Hypena proboscidalis)
Fan-foot (Zanclognatha tarsipennis)
Small Fan-foot (Herminia grisealis)
+1
Calver
Aphomia sociella (Bee Moth)
Chesterfield
Calver
The unusual common name of this little Pyralid moth comes from the larvae, which live in bumblebee nests and feed on the nest matter and the bee larvae.
Females are larger than males and lack clear, jagged cross-lines, with the only clear markings being black dots near the leading edge of the wings.
Females are larger than males and lack clear, jagged cross-lines, with the only clear markings being black dots near the leading edge of the wings.
Small Magpie
Green Oak Tortrix
Acleris hastiana
Matlock
Diurnea fagella
Ermine sp
Pyrasta aurata
One of several common Pyrausta species in Britain, this day-flying species is often seen fluttering around flowers in full sun. This and P.purpurata are quite similar and both occur in gardens, meadows and other open, sunny habitats.
P.aurata has bright orange spots and forewing markings, while P.purpurata has paler, more yellow markings. It also has paler hindwing markings.
P.aurata has bright orange spots and forewing markings, while P.purpurata has paler, more yellow markings. It also has paler hindwing markings.
Hypsopygalis costalis (Gold Triangle)
Calver
This common, attractive species is described in the Moths of Wicken Fen NNR section of the site.
Mother of Pearl (Pleuroptya ruralis)
Calver
This common and large moth is named for the pearly sheen on the wings. The markings are also distinctive, with mottled brown cross-bands.
Evergestris pallidata
Calver
This uncommon moth of damp, wooded habitats can be recognised by its glossy wings and brown cross-lines, the first of which has a circular mark just before the leading edge.
Anania coronata
Calver
A common and attractive Crambid moth, this species can be recognised by its blotched markings and pointed forewing tips - the similar A.stachydalis has a different blotched pattern, with more small blotches and the largest blotch divided.
Anania coronata
Calver
A common and attractive Crambid moth, this species can be recognised by its blotched markings and pointed forewing tips - the similar A.stachydalis has a different blotched pattern, with more small blotches and the largest blotch divided.
Anania coronata
Calver
A common and attractive Crambid moth, this species can be recognised by its blotched markings and pointed forewing tips - the similar A.stachydalis has a different blotched pattern, with more small blotches and the largest blotch divided.
Brown Blair's Shoulder Knot
Calver
h
Broken-bar Rustic
Calver
h