UTB Moths

Getting Started

If you've never recorded moths before then a good starting point is to look for some of the most common and easily identifiable moths. These include moths which can be seen nectaring on flowers and actively flying during the daytime and also those which can frequently be disturbed while out walking. At night you can find moths which are attracted to house lights.

The table below shows some of the most common moths which are easy to identify, but one of the best and most enjoyable ways to find out about moths is to attend a moth trapping evening. Lights are used to attract moths so that they can be seen, identified and released. Upper Thames Branch organises a regular programme of moth evenings and the very popular Berks Moth Group meets once a month. See our Events page for more information. Everyone is welcome to join these friendly and informative evenings.

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Angle Shades
Blood-vein
Brimstone Moth
Cinnabar
Elephant Hawk-moth
Hummingbird Hawk-Moth
Magpie
Mother Shipton
Small Magpie
Yellow Shell

Photo © David Redhead
Angle Shades (Phlogophora meticulosa)

Description: A very distinctive nocturnal moth which is common in gardens and can be found at rest with its wings folded over its back.
Flight Period: Has been found in every month of the year, but most frequently seen from May to October.

Photo © Tony Croft
Blood-vein (Timandra comae)

Description: Flies at night, sometimes found resting by day, when the blood-red markings help break up its shape and make the moth hard to see amongst the vegetation.
Flight Period: Found from June to September.

Photo © Richard Soulsby
Brimstone Moth (Opisthograptis luteolata)

Description: A distinctive species, fresh specimens are very brightly coloured. Not to be confused with the duller yellow of the Yellow Shell. Of the two, the Yellow Shell is more often seen by day.
Flight Period: Flies at night from April to September.

Photo © Alastair Driver
Cinnabar (Tyria jacobaeae)

Description: A conspicuous nocturnal and day-flying moth which is frequently disturbed from the grass during the day.
Flight Period: They are mainly on the wing from May to July.

Photo © Martin Harvey
Elephant Hawk-moth (Deilephila elpenor)

Description: A very distinctive species, and generally considered to be one of the most attractive moths. It has a wingspan of approximately 60-70mm. The related Small Elephant Hawk-moth is similar but smaller with a wingspan of 45-55mm.
Flight Period: Flies at night during June and July.

Photo © Dave Ferguson
Hummingbird Hawk-moth (Macroglossum stellatarum)

Description: Frequenting parks and gardens, this is a very fast-flying moth which can be seen in the daytime hovering in front of flowers such as buddleia to sip nectar. It has often been mistaken for a real hummingbird!
Flight Period: This is a migrant moth which can turn up at any time of year, but is most often seen from June to October.

Photo © Wendy Campbell
Magpie (Abraxas grossulariata)

Description: Used to be a familiar garden moth but has become less common in recent years. It flies at night in but can be found at rest during the day. Compare this moth with the smaller (and unrelated) Small Magpie moth.
Flight Period: July and August.

Photo © UTB
Mother Shipton (Callistege mi)

Description: Named from the markings on the wings, which resemble the renowned prophetess of the same name. Flies by day in grasslands, often in company with the Burnet Companion moth, the Dingy Skipper butterfly and the rather similar Grizzled Skipper butterfly.
Flight Period: May and June

Photo © Mike Wilkins
Small Magpie (Eurrhypara hortulata)

Description: This small moth has a yellow and black body with black and white wings. It's seen fairly frequently and is sometimes confused with the unrelated Magpie moth.
Flight Period: June and July.

Photo © Jim Asher
Yellow Shell (Camptogramma bilineata)

Description: A rather variable moth, from yellow to brown via orange, but the markings are constant. Flies by night but also very easily disturbed from hedgerows and shrubs during the day. Not to be confused with the Brimstone Moth, the Yellow Shell is more often seen by day.
Flight Period: June to September.

UTB Moth Species

There are some 900 British macro-moths, two thirds of which can be found in the three counties of the Upper Thames Branch. A complete list of UTB Macro-moths is being compiled and will appear here later.

Recording Moths

The Upper Thames Branch has three County Moth Recorders, one for each of the counties covered by the Branch. Please send your moth records to the appropriate County Moth Recorder. The County Moth Recorders can help you to identify moths, but they may need to see a good quality photo or the moth specimen to confirm identifications. If you think you have found a rare moth then please contact your County Moth Recorder as soon as possible:

Berkshire - Martin Harvey
Buckinghamshire - Martin Albertini
Oxfordshire - Martin Townsend

In addition, our Bucks Moth Officer can be contacted to assist with moth identifications:

Bucks Moth Officer - Peter Hall

The vital information required by the County Moth Recorders in order to add a moth record to their database is:

-   Moth species
-   Location, preferably giving an OS grid reference or detailed address or postcode
-   Date of sighting
-   Name of person doing the recording.

'Difficult' Moths

Some moths are extremely difficult to identify in the field and others can only be identified by dissection. The following document lists and provides help with identifying these difficult moths:

Recording 'difficult' macro moths (42Kb PDF file)

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