Drinker Moth (Euthrix potatoria)

OTHER NAMES: The Drinker

Latin Etymology: Euthrix (?) potatoria (?)

Larval form of Drinker Moth (Euthrix potatoria - unknwon subspecies) at Rainham Marshes, London - June 2016

Featured Subspecies: ?
Wingspan: 45-65m
UK STATUS NOT EVALUATED / IUCN Red List: Not Yet Evaluated 

The adult of the drinker moth is a fairly large round species which is almost entirely unfirmly brown.  As a caterpillar it can grow up to 6cm long and it is this form that gives it it's name - it allegedly drinks dew while in this form.  It also hibernates over its first Winter before eventually flying in July and August.

Related Species:
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Lasiocampidae
Genus: Euthrix
SUBSPECIES: E. p. askoldensis, E. p. bergmani, E. p. feminalis, E. p. potatoria 

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - A fairly common resident.

 - Seen at Rainham Marshes,

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

Small Grass Emerald (Chlorissa viridata)

OTHER NAMES: N/A

Latin Etymology: Chlorissa ("?") viridata ("green")

Adult Small Grass Emerald (subspecies C. v. melinaria) at Geddington, Northants - June 2011

Featured Subspecies: Chlorissa viridata melinaria
Wingspan: 24-27mm
UK STATUS NOT EVALUATED / IUCN Red List: Not Yet Evaluated 

A scarce and local species, the Small Grass Emerald is mostly restricted to the South of England where it is found in moorland habitats suitable for it's foodplants of heather and birch.  This moth had flown into our house one night, which is a little odd as as far as I can find out we are out of the normal range for this moth.

Related Species:
Order: Lepidoptera 
Family: Geometridae 
Genus: Chlorissa
SUBSPECIES: C. v. virdata, C. v. melinaria, C. v. insigniata

- Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - A fairly common resident

 - Seen in Geddington

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

Large Yellow Underwing (Noctua pronuba)

OTHER NAMES: Winter Cutworm, European Yellow Underwing

Latin Etymology: Noctua ("night bird") pronuba ("maid of honour")

Adult Large Yellow Underwing (Noctua pronuba) at Geddington, Northants - June 2016

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Wingspan: 50-60mm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Not Yet Evaluated 

One of the most common large moths within it's range, the large yellow underwing is a species which feeds on grasses and various herbaceous vegetation.  Originally a native of Eurasia, it has accidentally been introduced to North America where it is now a potentially destructive invasive species which can occur in what is described as "massive, epidemic outbreak numbers" in suitable habitats.

Related Species:
Order: Lepidoptera 
Family: Noctuidae 
Genus: Noctua 
SUBSPECIES: none - monotypic 

- Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - A fairly common resident

 - Seen in Geddington

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

Magpie Moth (Abraxas grossulariata)

OTHER NAMES: The Magpie

Featured Subspecies: Abraxas (a type of ancient medieval amulet) grossulariata (?)

Adult Magpie Moth (subspecies A. g. grossulariata) at Geddington, Northants - August 2016

Featured Subspecies: Abraxas grossulariata grossulariata
Wingspan: 35-40mm
UK STATUS NOT EVALUATED / IUCN Red List: Not Yet Evaluated 

A distinctive moth of North America and the Northern Palearctic, it is a fairly common species in the UK.  Unusually for butterflies and moths, the catepillar of this species actually has a similar colour scheme to the adult.  They feed on current and gooseberry bushes as a catepillars and as such can be seen as pest be people who cultivate them.

Related Species:
Order: Lepidoptera 
Family: Geometridae 
Genus: Abraxas 
SUBSPECIES: A. g. grossulariata, A. g. karafutonis, A. g. conspurcata, A. g. dsungarica

- Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - A fairly common resident

 - Seen in Geddington

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

Chimney Sweeper (Odezia atrata)

OTHER NAMES: Chimney Sweeper Moth, Chimney Sweep

Latin Etymology: Odezia (?) atrata (?)

Adult Chimney Sweeper (subspecies O. a. atrata) at Geddington, Northants - June 2015

Featured Subspecies: O. a. atrata
Weight: ?  /  Length: ?  /  Wingspan: 23-27mm
UK STATUS NOT EVALUATED / IUCN Red List: Not Yet Evaluated 

A small distinctive species of moth that is day flying - particularly in bright sunshine - yet almost entirely black except for the fringes of it's forewings.  It inhabits grassy meadows, especially in chalky or limestone based areas. It has only a single generation per year flying in June and July.

Related Species:
Order: Lepidoptera 
Family: Geometridae 
Genus: Odezia 
SUBSPECIES: O. a. atrata, O. a. meridionalis, O. a. pyrenaica

- Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - A fairly common resident

 - Seen in Geddington

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

Tropical Swallowtail Moth (Lyssa zampa)

OTHER NAMES: Laos Brown Butterfly

Latin Etymology: Lyssa (?) zampa ("paw")

Adult Tropical Swallowtail Moth (Lyssa zampa - unknown subspecies) at Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - July 2016

Featured Subspecies: ?
Wingspan: 100mm-160mm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Not Yet Evaluated 

A colossal species of moth, vastly larger than any species in the UK to the point where it is larger than many birds in it's range.  The tropical swallowtail moth is a species that as a larvae feeds on plants from the rubber tree family.  It is often seen in cities as it is attracted by the lights at night, and indeed this species flew out of a flowerbed in a heavily managed garden beneath the Petronas Towers.

Related Species:
Order: Lepidoptera 
Family: Uraniidae 
Genus: Lyssa 
SUBSPECIES: L. z. dilutus, L. z. docile, L. z. najabula

 - Sighting Locations -

MALAYSIA - A common resident.

 - MALAYSIA/SINGAPORE 2016 TRIP: Fairly common in Kuala Lumpur

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

Hummingbird Hawk-Moth (Macroglossum stellatarum)

OTHER NAMES: Humming-bird Hawk-moth

Latin Etymology: Macroglossum ("big tongue") stellatarum (?)

Adult Hummingbird Hawk-moth (Macroglossum stellatarum) at Geddington, Northants - June 2016

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Length: ?  /  Wingspan: 50-58mm
UK Status: Not Yet Evaluated / IUCN Red List: Not Yet Evaluated 

The Hummingbird Hawk-moth has an incredibly apt name - it's hovering method of feeding, long feeding proboscis and flight stance are all uncannily reminiscent of hummingbirds, which are absent from the Old World.  It is distributed across Eurasia and North Africa, as it's entire way of life is specialised to take advantage of them, they mostly prefer flowers with lots of nectar and with long and narrow shapes allowing them to avoid competition with other insects.

Related Species:
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Sphingidae
Genus: Macroglossum
SUBSPECIES: None - monotypic

- Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - A widespread resident species which is seen in Summer

 - Seen in Geddington

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

Shaded Broad-Bar (Scotopteryx chenopodiata)

OTHER NAMES: Shaded Broad Bar

Latin Etymology: Scotopteryx (?) chenopodiata (?)

Adult Shaded Broad-bar (subspecies S. c. sibirica) at Brigstock, Northants - July 2011

Featured Subspecies: Scotopterx chenopodiata sibirica
Length: ?  /  Wingspan: 25-30mm
UK Status: Not Yet Evaluated / IUCN Red List: Not Yet Evaluated

A fairly common day-flying moth species in my area, I have most often seen it in the nearby woodland, possibly associated with areas of hawthorn, although I don't have enough information on this species to tell if it is a coincidence.  It is most distinctive when landed, as then you can see the horizontal bar of it's name.

Related Species:
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Geometridae
Genus: Scotopteryx
SUBSPECIES: S. c. siberica, S. c. sibirica

- Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - A common resident species

 - Seen in Brigstock

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

Common Heath Moth (Ematurga atomaria)

OTHER NAMES: Common Heath 

Latin Etymology: Ematurga (?) atomaria ("sprinkled with tiny dots")

Adult Common Heath Moth (Ematurga atomaria) at Brigstock, Northants - May 2012

Featured subspecies: N/A
Length: ?  /  Wingspan: 22-30mm
UK Status: Not Evaluated / IUCN Red List: Not Yet Evaluated 

The Common Heath Moth is a common day-flying species found throughout Britain.  It is a very variable species in appearance, capable of possessing a very wide variety of patterns through a range of colours from oranges to browns and creams.  As caterpillars they feed on heather, heath and clovers and fly in May and June.

Related Species:
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Geometridae
Genus: Ematurga
SUBSPECIES: None - monotypic

- Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - A fairly common resident.

 - Seen in Brigstock 

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

Green Longhorn (Adela reaumurella)

OTHER NAMES: Green Fairy Longhorn Moth

Latin Etymology: Adela (?) reaumurella (?)

Adult Green Longhorn (Adela reaumurella) at Geddington, Northants - May 2012

Featured subspecies: N/A
Length: 17mm (+55-60mm antennae)  /  Wingspan: 14-18mm
UK Status: Not Evaluated / IUCN Red List: Not Yet Evaluated

The Green Longhorn is a very odd looking insect that more resembles a beetle than the moth that it is: it has a shiny green carapace like set of wings that far more resembles a beetles' shell than wings.  I seem to have encountered this species more in damp areas, but I'm not sure if this is a specific pattern - it's a species whose caterpillar resides in leaf litter.

Related Species:
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Adelidae
Genus: Adela
SUBSPECIES: None - monotypic

- Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - A fairly common resident which flies in June.

 - Seen in Geddington on several occasions.

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

Common Crimson and Gold Moth (Pyrausta purpuralis)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Pyrausta ("fire starting") purpuralis ("purple coloured")

Adult European Peacock (subspecies P. p. minimalis) at Geddington, Northants - August 2011

Featured Subspecies: Pysrausta purpuralis minimalis
Length: ?  /  Wingspan: 20mm
UK Status: Least Concern / IUCN Red List: Not Yet Evaluated

This species was found on a walk near my home in Northants, and appears to be a species which is primarily known by its Latin name, and it wasn't until a while later that I managed to track down a common name for it.  It is a member of the "mint moths" group, so named because they feed on mint.

Related Species:
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Crambidae
Genus: Pyrausta
SUBSPECIES: P. p. minimalis

- Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - A fairly common resident species which is seen in Summer

 - Seen in Geddington

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

Common Plume (Emmelina monodactyla)

OTHER NAMES: Common Plume Moth, Morning-glory Plume Moth, T-Moth 
Latin Etymology: Emmelina (?) monodactyla ("one fingered")

Adult Common Plume (Emmelina monodactyla) at Geddington, Northants - September 2016

Featured Subspecies: ?
Weight: ?  /  Length: ?  /  Wingspan: 18-27
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Not Yet Evaluated 

The Plume Moths in general are a bizarre looking family - they have somewhat corrugated wings which allow them to be folded up into functionally single rods, giving them their distinctive "T" shape when at rest.  As one of their alternate names suggest, their foodplants as larvae are primarily from the bindweed family, and this has allowed them a huge range, being found over much of the Northern Hemisphere.

Related Species:
Order: Lepidoptera 
Family: Pterophoridae
Genus: Emmelina
SUBSPECIES: ?

- Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - A fairly common resident

 - Seen in Geddington

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

Brimstone Moth (Opisthograptis luteolata)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Opisthograptis (?) luteolata (?)

Adult Brimstone Moth (Opisthograptis luteolata) at Geddington, Northants - July 2011

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Length: ?  /  Wingspan: 32-37mm
UK Status: Not Evaluated / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The Brimstone moth is a very distinctive species which can pretty much be identified by colour alone. To add a tiny bit of complexity, the Brimstone Butterfly, an entirely separate species, is also the same toxic yellow, however, they both move very much like a moth and a butterfly respectively,so hopefully that shouldn't be an issue. Mainly nocturnal in theory, it may occasionally, as in this case, be seen in the day.

Related Species:
Order: Lepidoptera 
Family: Geometridae 
Genus: Opisthograptis
SUBSPECIES: None - monotypic

- Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - A fairly common resident

 - Seen in Geddington

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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Scarlet Tiger Moth (Callimorpha dominula)

OTHER NAMES: Scarlet Tiger
Latin Etymology: Callimorpha (?) dominula (?)

Injured adult Scarlet Tiger Moth (subspecies C. d. dominula) at Tintagel, Cornwall - June 2010

Featured Subspecies: Callimorpha dominula dominula
Length: ?  /  Wingspan: 50mm
UK Status: Least Concern / IUCN Red List: Not Yet Evaluated

A very attractive species of moth found in the south west of the country. It is found near marshy areas and rocky coasts. There are a variety of other "tiger" moths in the UK, so care should be taken when working out which one you have seen.

Related Species:
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Actiidae
Genus: Callimorpha
SUBSPECIES: C. d. dominula, C. d. lusitanica, C. d. pompalis, C. d. persona, C. d. trinacriae, C. d. profuga, C. d. rossica, C. d. philippse, C. d. kurdistanica

- Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - A local resident species seen in Summer.

 - Seen in Geddington and numerous other sites 

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

Six-Spot Burnet (Zygaena filipendulae)

OTHER NAMES: Six-spot Burnet Moth
Latin Etymology: Zygaena (?) filipendulae (?)

Two adult Six-spot Burnet (Zygaena filipendulae - unknown subspecies) at Brigstock, Northants - July 2010

Featured Subspecies: unknown
Length: ?  /  Wingspan: 30-40mm
UK Status: Least Concern / IUCN Red List: Not Yet Evaluated

One of the most common and easily recognisable of the day flying moths in the UK - the Six Spot Burnet (often mistakenly identified as the similarly coloured Cinnabar Moth) can be found in a wide number of locations. I seem to see them in the highest numbers on Cornish footpaths in the summer.

Related Species:
Order: Lepidoptera 
Family: Zygaenidae 
Genus: Zygaena
SUBSPECIES: Z. f. altapyrenaica, Z. f. arctica, Z. f. balcanirosea, Z. f. campaniae, Z. f. duponcheli, Z. f. filipendulae, Z. f. gemella, Z. f. gemina, Z. f. gigantea, Z. f. himmighofeni, Z. f. liguris, Z. f. maior, Z. f. mannii, Z. f. noacki, Z. f. oberthueriana, Z. f. polygalae, Z. f. praeochsem, Z. f. pulcherrimasoechadis, Z. f. pyrenes, Z. f. seeboldi, Z. f. siciliensis, Z. f. stephensi, Z. f. stoechadis, Z. f. zarana

- Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - A common resident species

 - Seen in Geddington, Brigstock, Trevose Head and numerous other locations

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

Pine Processionary Moth (Thaumetopoea pityocampa)

OTHER NAMES: Pine Processionary
Latin Etymology: Thaumetopoea ("showing marvelous things") pityocampa (?)

Catepillars of Pine Processionary Moth (Thaumetopoea pityocampa)  at Mount Etna, Sicily, Italy - May 2018

Featured Subspecies: ?
Weight: ?  /  Length: ?  /  Wingspan: 31-49mm
UK STATUS NOT EVALUATED / IUCN Red List: Not Yet Evaluated 

An unusual instance where it is the caterpillar which is the far more notable and recognisable form of the species.  As adults they are small and unremarkable looking grey brown moths, but the larvae have a number of distinctive adaptations and behavioural patterns of note.  As they develop, they build a communal tent structure which they use as a base for foraging, including during Winter.  When it reaches time to pupate, they form long processions (as seen in the photo above) which are guided by pheremone trails.  It is here they are most directly of note to humans, as at this point in their life they also have allergy inducing hairs which can cause problems for humans and other animals

Related Species:
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Thaumetopoeidae
Genus: Thaumetopoea
SUBSPECIES: ?

 - Sighting Locations -

ITALY - Italian - Processionaria del Pino ("Pine Processionary")
A localised resident in coniferous areas

 - SICILY 2018 TRIP: Fairly common in the conifer zone of Mount Etna

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

Privet Hawk Moth (Sphinx ligustri)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Sphinx (after the mythical being) ligustri ("privet")

Adult Privet Hawk Moth (Sphinx ligustri) at Geddington, July 2020

Featured Subspecies: ? 
Weight: ?  /  Length: 8.5cm  /  Wingspan: 12cm
UK STATUS NOT EVALUATED/ IUCN Red List: Not Yet Evaluated 

A large and distinctive moth which despite the name, also feeds upon ash, lilacs and jasmine as a caterpillar. They are a reasonably common visitor to gardens, where they are one of the largest insects likely to be encountered.

Related Species:
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Sphingidae
Genus: Sphinx
SUBSPECIES: ?

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - A fairly common resident in the South.

 - Seen in Geddington (July 2020),

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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Elephant Hawk-moth (Deilephila elpenor)

OTHER NAMES: Large Elephant Hawk-moth
Latin Etymology: Deilephila (?) elpenor (name from Greek myth)

Adult female Elephant Hawk-moth (Deilephila elpenor) at Geddington - June 2020

Featured Subspecies: Deilephila elpenor elpenor
Weight: ?  /  Length: ?  /  Wingspan: 6-7cm
UK STATUS NOT EVALUATED/ IUCN Red List: Not Yet Evaluated 

An unusual example of a species named after the appearance of it's immature form; in this case that it's caterpillar is said to resemble an elephant's trunk. In their adult form, the Elephant Hawk Moth is one of the larger moths in Europe and has some fascinating adaptations; they have superb eyesight, including the ability to see colour at night and are capable of hovering. Thanks to Di for showing me this individual from her moth trap!

Related Species:
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Sphingidae
Genus: Deilephila
SUBSPECIES: D. e. elpenor, D. e. macromera

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - A reasonably widely spread resident.

 - Seen in Geddington (July 2020),

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .