Reed Leopard (Phragmataecia castaneae)
This reedbed specialist is an extremely rare species on our shores, and Wicken Fen is one of very few places it can be seen. It is classified as a Red Data Book species in Britain.
The moth is delicately marked fine speckling on a sandy background. Females are very easy to identify, as their abdomens extend far beyond the wingtips when at rest, as shown here.
The moth is delicately marked fine speckling on a sandy background. Females are very easy to identify, as their abdomens extend far beyond the wingtips when at rest, as shown here.
Drinker (Euthrix potatoria)
male
female
female
femaleThe Drinker is a common moth of fens, damp grassland, marshes and other permanently wet habitats, where it feeds on various grasses and reeds. It is relatively widespread in England, becoming scarcer further north into Scotland.
Males and females are different colours (males darker, females paler), but both have the diagnostic diagonal line across the forewing, with a small white spot near the leading edge.
Males and females are different colours (males darker, females paler), but both have the diagnostic diagonal line across the forewing, with a small white spot near the leading edge.
Lappet (Gastropacha quercifolia)
One of my favourite moths, the Lappet is a master of camouflage, looking like a bundle of dry oak leaves (hence the scientific name). It is a moth of southern England, where it lives in open woodland and scrub.
Scalloped Hook-tip (Falcaria lacertinaria)
No other British moth resembles this stunningly-camouflaged species of scrubby woodland. The scalloped trailing edge of the wings is characteristic of this species and the Beautiful Hook-tip (see below), but only this species has parallel lines over the wings and rests with them held high.
The Scalloped Hook-tip one of the most widespread members of the Drepanidae in Britain and can be found across the country, although Wicken Fen is the only place I have ever seen it.
The Scalloped Hook-tip one of the most widespread members of the Drepanidae in Britain and can be found across the country, although Wicken Fen is the only place I have ever seen it.
Pebble Hook-tip (Drepana falcataria ssp.falcataria)
Hook-tips are always a special find for me, with an exotic appearance. I rarely see them, although this species is widespread across Britain.
The Pebble Hook-tip can be recognised by its dark 'pebble' markings in the centre of the forewings.
The Pebble Hook-tip can be recognised by its dark 'pebble' markings in the centre of the forewings.
Chinese Character (Cilix glaucata)
This unusual-looking moth is a stunning mimic, like many of the Drepanidae - it is perfectly adapted to look like a bird dropping in its woodland haunts.
The Chinese Character is a small species found across much of Britain, but it is most common in the south, where I have often caught it on my visits.
The Chinese Character is a small species found across much of Britain, but it is most common in the south, where I have often caught it on my visits.
Buff Arches (Habrosyne pyritoides)
The amazingly intricate forewing markings of this common moth make it easy to recognise. As a bramble feeder, it is most frequent in woodland and scrubby habitats.
The Buff Arches is widespread in England and Wales.
The Buff Arches is widespread in England and Wales.
Lesser Cream Wave (Scopula immutata)
This little moth won't win many aesthetic prizes, but is an uncommon species and one I've only ever seen at Wicken Fen. It is mainly a moth of lush, wet, grassy habitats like marshes and water meadows.
Key identification features of this species are the bold black dot on the hindwings on a slightly 'peppered' background with faint beige wavy lines.
Key identification features of this species are the bold black dot on the hindwings on a slightly 'peppered' background with faint beige wavy lines.
Small Fan-footed Wave (Idaea biselata)
This common species is described in the Moths of Derbyshire section of the site.
Common Carpet (Epirrhoe alternata ssp.alternata)
This species is described in the Moths of Derbyshire section of the site.
Small Phoenix (Ecliptoptera silaceata)
This species is described in the Moths of Derbyshire section of the site.
July Highflyer (Hydriomena furcata)
This species is described in the Moths of Garston Wood section of the site.
Chevron (Eulithis testata)
This attractive geometrid is described in the Moths of other parts of Dorset section of the site.
Dark Umber (Philereme transversata ssp.britannica)
A beautiful, chocolate-coloured geometrid of scrub, woodland and marshes, the Dark Umber is a moth of the southern half of England and Wales. It feeds on buckthorn species.
The Brown Scallop is similar, but smaller and has less contrast between the brown bands.
The Brown Scallop is similar, but smaller and has less contrast between the brown bands.
Clouded Border (Lomaspilis marginata)
This widespread species is described in the Moths of Garston Wood section of the site.
Bordered Beauty (Epione repandaria)
The angular features and bold pattern of this superb leaf mimicing moth make it easy to recognise. It is a species of carr woodland, which is an abundant habitat on the fringes of the different fens at Wicken. Like many moths it is most frequent in southern England.
Purple Thorn (Selenia tetralunaria)
One of the more widespread Thorns, the Purple Thorn is a handsome insect, and common across many southern and central parts of Britain, where it is a species of woodland and scrub.
The Purple Thorn rests in the classic pose of the family, with its wings raised and spread like a basking butterfly. The scientific name describes the silvery crescent-moon mark on each wing, although this feature is also shared by the much rarer Lunar Thorn. The two species are very similar unless seen side-by-side, although the Purple Thorn has a much clearer, wider pale band beyond the white 'moon-marks' than the Lunar Thorn.
The Purple Thorn rests in the classic pose of the family, with its wings raised and spread like a basking butterfly. The scientific name describes the silvery crescent-moon mark on each wing, although this feature is also shared by the much rarer Lunar Thorn. The two species are very similar unless seen side-by-side, although the Purple Thorn has a much clearer, wider pale band beyond the white 'moon-marks' than the Lunar Thorn.
Iron Prominent (Notodonta dromedarius)
Named for the rust-coloured patches on its body and wings, this attractive moth is one of the most widespread Notodonta species in Britain, although I have only ever seen it at Wicken Fen.
It is a species of damp woodland and carr, where it feeds on birch and alder. No other British species has the dark background and bright, rusty streaks, making the Iron Prominent easy to recognise.
It is a species of damp woodland and carr, where it feeds on birch and alder. No other British species has the dark background and bright, rusty streaks, making the Iron Prominent easy to recognise.
Pebble Prominent (Notodonta ziczac)
This common species is described in the Moths of other parts of Dorset section of the site.
Pale Prominent (Pterostoma palpina)
This exquisitely-camouflaged moth is common throughout England and Wales. No other species resembles it in shape, and when at rest, it looks more like a piece of broken wood than an animal!
Small Chocolate-tip (Clostera pigra)
All recorded throughout Britain, this little member of the Notodontidae is classified as Nationally Scarce. It is a classic fen moth, but also occurs in other damp places where willows grow.
Along with its two close cousins, the Small Chocolate-tip is one of only three British moths in Pygaerinae. They are all similar in size and share the blotched grey and brown colouration, although C.pigra is slightly smaller than the other two and has a poorly-defined orange-brown blotch near the trailing edge of the forewings. The other two species have this blotch much more obviously-defined.
Along with its two close cousins, the Small Chocolate-tip is one of only three British moths in Pygaerinae. They are all similar in size and share the blotched grey and brown colouration, although C.pigra is slightly smaller than the other two and has a poorly-defined orange-brown blotch near the trailing edge of the forewings. The other two species have this blotch much more obviously-defined.
Buff Tip (Phalera bucephala)
This moth is described in the Moths of Derbyshire section of the site.
Yellow-tail (Euproctis similis)
This moth is described in the Moths of Garston Wood section of the site.
Ruby Tiger (Phramgatobia fuliginosa ssp.fuliginosa)
This attractive Arctiid moth is described in the Moths of other parts of Dorset section of the site.
Dot Moth (Melanchra persicariae)
This moth is described in the Moths of Derbyshire section of the site.
Brown-line Bright-eye (Mythimna conigera)
Part of the diverse genus Mythimna (there are eighteen species in Britain), this cousin of the wainscots is named for the distinctive forewing pattern, which is not shared by other British species.
The Brown-line Bright-eye is a moth of grassy habitats and can be seen throughout Britain.
The Brown-line Bright-eye is a moth of grassy habitats and can be seen throughout Britain.
Southern Wainscot (Mythimna straminea)
The subtly-marked wainscot is a local species of marshes and fens, feeding on Common Reed. It can be identified by the brown streak on the forewings and slightly-projecting wingtips. The forewings are also much straighter and square-tipped than other wainscots, whose wings have a more rounded profile.
The Southern Wainscot lives up to its name, and is only widespread in the southern half of England.
The Southern Wainscot lives up to its name, and is only widespread in the southern half of England.
Smoky Wainscot (Mythimna impura)
This common species looks similar to the Southern Wainscot (see above) but has more rounded wings. The common name derives from the smoky-grey hindwings.
The Smoky Wainscot can be seen in grassy habitats throughout Britain.
The Smoky Wainscot can be seen in grassy habitats throughout Britain.
Coronet (Craniophora ligustri)
This moth is described in the Moths of Garston Wood section of the site.
Fen Wainscot (Arenostola phragmitidis)
Another reedbed species, as its common and scientific names suggest, this moth can be found in suitable habitat in England and Wales and is most common in the far south.
Despite it being largely unmarked, this moth is quite easy to identify - the darker fringes of the hindwings and lack of any spotting is unique among wainscots in Britain.
Despite it being largely unmarked, this moth is quite easy to identify - the darker fringes of the hindwings and lack of any spotting is unique among wainscots in Britain.
Dotted Fan-foot (Macrochilo cribrumalis)
Although not very prominent in the individual shown here, this Nationally Scarce moth is easily identified by the two rows of small black spots on the forewings. All other British fan-foots have solid lines as their markings and are brown moths, rather than pale grey-white.
This rare moth is a sedge specialist and is nearly confined to East Anglia and the Thames Estuary. It can be seen in fens, bogs and marshes.
This rare moth is a sedge specialist and is nearly confined to East Anglia and the Thames Estuary. It can be seen in fens, bogs and marshes.
Silky Wainscot (Chilodes maritimus)
Despite its common name, this moth is only a distant cousin of the wainscot family. Like many Wicken Fen moths, it is a reedbed specialist, feeding on Common Reed. It is named for the silky-white hindwing.
Distinguishing features of this species (aprt from the hindwing) are its curved profile and delicately-streaked pattern with two rows of spots in the rear half of the forewings. The colour can vary quite widely on this species, with some individuals having quite prominent kidney marks and bold streaks.
Distinguishing features of this species (aprt from the hindwing) are its curved profile and delicately-streaked pattern with two rows of spots in the rear half of the forewings. The colour can vary quite widely on this species, with some individuals having quite prominent kidney marks and bold streaks.
Crescent (Celaena leucostigma ssp.leucostigma)
Named for the pale, crescent-shaped kidney mark, the Crescent is quite a variable species of fens and other habitats where Yellow Iris and Great Fen-sedge grow.
It is a local species, with occurrences dependent on there being suitable habitat for its foodplants.
There are two forms of Crescent found in most of Britain - the one shown here is f.fibrosa and has a prominent pale brown diagonal band at the rear of the wings and fine white lines extending from the crescent mark. The other form is much plainer, with only the crescent mark being prominent, but it still has the noticeably pointed wingtips.
It is a local species, with occurrences dependent on there being suitable habitat for its foodplants.
There are two forms of Crescent found in most of Britain - the one shown here is f.fibrosa and has a prominent pale brown diagonal band at the rear of the wings and fine white lines extending from the crescent mark. The other form is much plainer, with only the crescent mark being prominent, but it still has the noticeably pointed wingtips.
Micro-moths
Beautiful China-mark (Nymphula nitidulata)
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Schoenobius gigantella
This local species of large reedbeds is almost entirely restricted to the south-eastern corner of England. It is well-named, as it is large for a 'micro-moth'.
The arrowhead shape of the moth is distinctive, as it the overall lack of distinctive markings (if that makes sense!).
The arrowhead shape of the moth is distinctive, as it the overall lack of distinctive markings (if that makes sense!).
Gold Triangle (Hypsopygia costalis)
The bright colouration and two bold yellow 'spots' along the forewing margin help identify this attractive little moth. It is a cosmopolitan species found across all of Engand and Wales.
Agapeta hamana
Text coming soon!
Acleris forsskaleana
Text coming soon!