*This will be a longer blog covering all species seen, as I would like to provide as much information to the members of National Avenue Allotments, so as the cool kids would say - If you want the "TL;DR" (too long; didn't read) version then the species will be listed at the bottom as usual. It should be noted that any statements regarding the number of specimens previously seen within Hull, will NOT include records within suburbs such as Cottingham & Hessle and will be focussed around those in the city itself - outlined roughly by the image below. |
| Area deemed "Hull City" |
Back in 2024, before I had decided to leave my old job, I was asked by a colleague whether I would be able to record some moths at his allotment in Hull, as part of an event and then present the findings the next day; naturally I agreed as the event was a couple of months away. Of course along came my new job opportunity and all plans went out the window and before we knew it the end of the year ticked along and any real valuable days to drive down and spend a couple of hours recording had gone. Like with all plans it's not always easy to match up days off especially when the activity your doing requires you to be up till 0100 and then have best part of a 70 minute car journey home.
With a little bit of luck we both found a night that would work - Tuesday 8th of July. This night worked for both of us, but would it work for the moths. It was a reasonable night weather wise, with the temperature hovering around 13°c when we started and lowering to about 11°c by the time we finished. There was only the slightest of gentle breezes, yet the biggest issue was the extremely clear night skies and the near full moon - 92% illumination to be precise (10th July was the full Moon!) Would the two traps in the middle of the small allotment, situated just 1.84miles from the city centre, be a match for the natural light source?
We didn't know what to expect from the evening but we set ourselves the optimistic challenge of trying to reach 35 species, with the reason being quite a simple one - that was Andy's allotment plot number! It's certainly a good feeling to say that we managed to hit this figure recording, what we believe is a fantastic 147 moths from 37 species.
As mentioned at the start, as this is more of an educational blog for the members of the allotment, rather than specifically those who are maybe already clued up on moths and what we'd expect to find. I shall run through all of the 37 species in alphabetical order, providing photos where possible - not all moths decided their hair was good enough for a photoshoot! Lets take a look at what we found:
Moth 1 - Acentria ephemerella (Water Veneer) Recorded in session: 60+
Size: 11-13mm Wingspan
Flight Season: June - August
Larval Foodplant: Aquatic Plants & Pond Weeds
Total Records: 3,675 Total Specimens: 55,311
Confusion Species: n/a
This moth is deemed to be a fairly common and local resident within Yorkshire and is found in large numbers when in proximity to ponds and slow flowing water. Larvae of the Water Veneer are solely aquatic, feeding on any aquatic plants within the water column. Interestingly there are 2 types of females - one with wings & one without which lives under the water. The fully-winged males will mate with the females usually on the surface of the water. Water Veneer was our most recorded moth of the evening, which given the locality to several, well-established ponds, this comes as no surprise. Overall the species is on an upward trend since 2000 with bumper years in 2018 and 2022 with 8,103 & 12,032 specimens in those respective years. The count of 60 during this session, marks the 2nd highest for a single session in Hull, with the top being 119 in 2022.
Moth 2 - Anania coronata (Elder Pearl) Recorded in session: 1 |
| Anania coronata |
Size: 22-26mm
Flight Season: June - July
Larval Foodplant: Elder
Total Records: 5,852 Total Specimens: 8,347
Confusion Species: Anania stachydalis (only 1 Yorkshire record)
Anania coronata is a common and widespread resident of Yorkshire. We recorded just the single specimen in the session, however this is still quite a good record for the area with only 2 other specimens since 2000 within the city - 2016 & 2023. Given the Common English name, it is no surprise that the larvae feed on the young leaves of Elder trees. Since 2000, this moth has been on an upward trend, now reaching several hundred records per year, with a new peak in 2024 fetching 626 specimens in a single year, compared to the sub-100 at the start of the century. There have been a handful of records within Hull, however I can't be sure of specific numbers due to missing data.
Moth 3 - Barred Yellow (Cidaria fulvata) Recorded in session: 1
 |
Barred Yellow
|
Size: 12-14mm Forewing
Flight Season: June - August
Larval Foodplant: Dog-Rose & other wild roses
Total Records: 5,685 Total Specimens: 7,838
Confusion Species: n/a
Possibly one of my favourite moths of the evening due to its strikingly bold pattern & markings, aided by the fact I believe this is a moth I have only recorded once before down in Lincolnshire. Up in Yorkshire, Barred Yellow is a common & widespread resident occupying any area where roses grow in good numbers meaning this can just as likely be found in your garden as well as any scrub or woodland areas. There have been 5 occasions where this moth has been recorded in Hull - all since 2022. Within the county the moth remains with a stable population with between circa 100-450 specimens per year since 2011, however it has been showing a small decline since its peak in 2021 where it hit 448 specimens in that year - dropping each year since to 301 in 2024.
Moth 4 - Bird-Cherry Ermine (Yponomeuta evonymella) Recorded in session: 2 |
Bird-Cherry Ermine
|
Size: 19-25mm Wingspan
Flight Season: July - August
Larval Foodplant: Bird Cherry
Total Records: 11,001 Total Specimens: 78,519
Confusion Species: Orchard Ermine & Spindle Ermine
Despite having two confusion species, this small Ermine is actually quite easy to identify compared to its similar counterparts. The 5 rows of black spots quite simply make it spottier than the rest! It is a very common and widespread species across the whole of Yorkshire and will pretty much turn up - well everywhere! The record for one session stands at a staggering 1400 in Ribblesdale on 23/07/2019. There have been 26 previously recorded specimens within our pre-determined area of Hull. Overall, Bird-Cherry Ermine keeps a stable population with between c.3,500 & 11,500 specimens per year since 2017.
Moth 5 - Box-Tree Moth (Cydalima perspectalis)
Recorded in session: 4 |
Box-Tree Moth
|
Size: 38-42mm Wingspan
Flight Season: June - November (multiple broods)
Larval Foodplant: Ornamental Box hedges/shrubs
Total Records: 1,243 Total Specimens: 3,260
Confusion Species: n/a
The Box-Tree Moth is one that you will struggle to find in some British Moth books, in particularly older ones. There are a couple of reasons for this. The first being that it is actually a non-native moth, with origins from Eastern Asia. It was actually only introduced to the UK as recently as 2007, where it was first recorded in Kent - introduced through imported Buxus plants, shipped from Asia. It wasn't until 2011 that caterpillars of this species were first recorded. Since then it has started to spread rapidly across the nation venturing further and further north - with the first Yorkshire record in 2014 - and based off of this information, yearly records continue to rise each year within the county, with a new peak of 1,495 specimens in 2024.
The second reason is that despite its larger size - it is actually determined to be a micro moth, so most people would tend to search the macro book for it's larger size. The determination of "Macro v Micro" isn't solely based on size and is actually more determined by evolutionary history and the characterstics of which moth family they belong to.
The first records for Hull started to appear in 2023. The 4 moths we recorded marks the highest specimen count in one session within Hull.
Moth 6 - Bright-Line Brown-Eye (Lacanobia oleracea)
Recorded in session: 4 |
Bright-Line Brown-Eye
|
Size: 14-19mm Forewing
Flight Season: May - July
Larval Foodplant: Herbaceous & Woody Plants
Total Records: 34,674 Total Specimens: 116,932
Confusion Species: n/a
Bright-Line Brown-Eye (not to be confused in name with Brown-Line Bright-Eye) is an abundant and very widespread resident within Yorkshire. It will occur across most of the county mainly due to the larvae having such a varied diet. In recent years it has been observed that records are increasing later in the year between the months of August & October indicating that smaller second broods are possible. Whilst the larvae generally stay away from foods grown in allotments, occasionally it can be found internally within tomatoes, however it is very unlikely, given the abundance of other food sources. Population trends for this moth seems to follow a very reliable peak/trough route across the chart in the last 20 years. This is still the case over the last couple, with a peak in 2022 of 6,014 specimens dipping to 2,214 in 2024. There are several records across Hull, which given its abundant status and varied diet should come as no surprise, however the 4 recorded in this session is a new high for one session.
Moth 7 - Brimstone Moth (Opisthograptis luteolata) Recorded in session: 1 |
| Brimstone Moth |
Size: 14-21mm Forewing
Flight Season: April - October (3 broods)
Larval Foodplant: Blackthorn, Hawthorn, Plum & Bullace
Total Records: 38,308 Total Specimens: 77,416
Confusion Species: n/a
This brightly coloured moth can equally be seen during the day when it is disturbed from roosting locations, as well as being drawn to light at night. It is important to distinguish between it's similarly named butterfly counterpart - Brimstone, especially when submitting records. Brimstone Moth, is one of the most common species within Yorkshire and can be found across the whole county. In 2024, it was 11th on the most recorded Macro Moths with 2,009 records totalling 3,841 specimens, which was 13% increase on 2023. Since 2000, it has been on a steady incline overall as a species, having started at around 1,000 records per year, creeping up slowly to that figure from 2024 above. Larval food sources as mentioned can include fruits such as plums, however again this is one of those where they will usually eat the leaves over the fruit & also have lots of other available food sources more reliably. There are a handful of records for Hull.
Moth 8 - Buff Arches (Habrosyne pyritoides) Recorded in session: 1 |
Buff Arches
|
Size: 17-20mm Forewing
Flight Season: June - August
Larval Foodplant: Bramble
Total Records: 9,018 Total Specimens: 16,268
Confusion Species: n/a
Buff Arches is one of those moths that when you see it for the first time in a recording year, you cant help but just smile. It's an unmistakeable species, with bold patterns made up of greys, whites & browns. Since 2000, numbers have been generally stable with a peak in 2022 of 1,451 specimens, however the following year, there was a drastic crash down to just 145 specimens! This has potentially been attributed to high larval mortality from the heatwaves in the previous year. There are just 7 previous specimens for Hull, with the first in 1978 & it took until 2010 for the next to appear. Larval food source is Bramble, so any areas which can afford to be left to look a little unkempt, will aid this moths recovery.
Moth 9 - Campion (Sideridis rivularis)
Recorded in session: 1 |
| Campion |
Size: 14-16mm Forewing
Flight Season: May - June & August - September
Larval Foodplant: Red, White & Sea Campions
Total Records: 3,263 Total Specimens: 4,019
Confusion Species: Lychnis
Campion is a fairly common moth within Yorkshire, however its distribution is still fairly thin. This species can easily be confused with Lychnis, however when fresh Campion, like ours above has a very subtle but shiny purple hue to it. Most records for this moth are only of 1 or 2 moths per session. Larvae feed internally on the seed capsules of the various campion flower species. Population trends suggest a very slow increase since 2000, however it has suffered a small decline over the last couple of years. This is the 4th record for the city with single specimens recorded in 22, 23 & 24 not too far away.
Moth 10 - Chrysoteuchia culmella (Garden Grass-Moth / Garden Grass-Veneer) Recorded in Session: 1 |
Chrysoteuchia culmella
|
Size: 20mm Wingspan
Flight Season: June - July
Larval Foodplant: Grasses
Total Records: 28,136 Total Specimens: 252,819
Confusion Species: Agriphila straminella
A very common and abundant micro moth across the whole of Yorkshire, this was the 2nd most recorded Micro in Yorkshire for 2024 with 2,066 records totalling 13,279 specimens. Despite this, it was actually a decrease of a staggering 62% compared to '23 in terms of specimens recorded. This moth can easily be disturbed during the day when walking through areas of long grass, as it will rest head down on long grass stems. The larvae will feed on various grass types towards the base of the plant. Given its abundant status across Yorkshire, there are ample records for the city.
Moth 11 - Common Footman (Eilema lurideola) Recorded in session: 5 |
| Common Footman |
Size: 14-17mm Forewing
Flight Season: July - August
Larval Foodplant: Lichens
Total Records: 35,610 Total Specimens: 225,331
Confusion Species: Dingy Footman & Scarce Footman
Common Footman does live up to its common name, being abundant and widespread across all of Yorkshire. Last year in 2024 it was the 14th most recorded moth in the county with 1,875 records, totalling 8,176 specimens. The population is deemed stable and has remained that way since numbers started to increase in the mid 2000s. There are plenty of records within Hull over the last few years. The species is generally more frequently found away from Industrial areas, where pollution can affect the growth of Lichen.
Moth 12 - Coronet (Craniophora ligustri) Recorded in session: 1 |
| Coronet |
Size: 19-19mm Forewing
Flight Season: June - July
Larval Foodplant: Ash & Privet
Total Records: 1,779 Total Specimens: 2,927
Confusion Species: Poplar Grey & Knot Grass
Coronet is a species that has really sky-rocketed in Yorkshire across roughly the last 15 years. In 2010 there were just 26 specimens recorded, compared to that of the peak in 2022 where there was 632. Last year it was 296, still an upward trend on previous years. There have been just over 20 specimens recorded in the area of Hull we are focussing on.
Moth 13 - Crambus perlella (Satin Grass-Veneer) Recorded in session: 1 |
Crambus perlella
|
Size: 21-28mm Wingspan
Flight Season: July - August
Larval Foodplant: Grasses
Total Records: 4,350 Total Specimens: 10,191
Confusion Species: n/a
Crambus perlella is a fairly common and widespread species. It has been seen across all 5 vice-counties of Yorkshire and like other grass-veneers it can be found in areas of long grassland and can be disturbed during the day. The larvae feed towards the base of the grass stems. There are two forms of C. perlella with the more common type being the one we have here, which is a creamy white colour, with a silky hue to it. There have only been 2 other specimens recorded within Hull, 2018 & 2023.
Moth 14 - Cydia pomonella (Codling Moth)
Recorded in session: 7 |
Cydia pomonella
|
Size: 14-22mm Wingspan
Flight Season: July - August
Larval Foodplant: Apple, pear, quince & other fruits
Total Records: 4,806 Total Specimens: 7,595
Confusion Species: Cydia splendana
This moth is probably the one that most allotment owners will not want to read about. It is a common, but thinly distributed resident of Yorkshire, predominantly found in Orchards or where fruit is grown, but rather less frequently elsewhere. The larvae do tend to burrow into the fruits that it wishes to feed on, so in some aspects can be considered a pest amongst fruit growers (however that doesn't mean it should be). Where the larvae has effected fruits which are generally apples, a small exit hole is usually visible at the end opposite the stalk. Fruit that has been effected will also generally ripen and drop early and inside the tunnel & feeding damage will be obvious. The RHS state that it is not worth making efforts to control Codling Moth due to the level of damage being rarely significant in an overall crop and the use of natural predators such as birds, wasps & ground beetles should be the encouraged method.
In terms of numbers the moth has seen a very steady increase over the last 20 years, but certainly not to a stage where numbers would be concerning to fruit growers - only 600 specimens in 2024. For our recording area in Hull, there have only been 8 specimens recorded since 1998 - all single figures; making the 7 found in this single session, a nice statistic to have.
Moth 15 - Dark Arches (Apamea monoglypha) Recorded in session: 6 |
| Dark Arches |
Size: 19-26mm Forewing
Flight Season: June - August (Signs of second brood September - November)
Larval Foodplant: Grasses
Total Records: 61,087 Total Specimens: 470,427
Confusion Species: n/a
Dark Arches is an extremely abundant and widespread resident of Yorkshire. It is so common that it can just become a nuisance when recording as you spend more time counting these than anything else! In 2024 it was the 3rd most recorded Macro moth in Yorkshire with 2,791 records, totalling 13,036 individuals - that's despite a drop of around 33% on 2023s specimen count! There are numerous records for the west side of Hull, between the allotment and the Haltemprice Farm area. Overall a very stable population with between c. 8,000 and 30,000 records per year.
Moth 16 - Dingy Footman (Eliema griseola) Recorded in session: 3 |
| Dingy Footman (f. stramineola) |
Size: 15-18mm
Flight Season: June - August
Larval Foodplant: Lichens
Total Records: 15,795 Total Specimens: 76,780
Confusion Species: Orange Footman & Buff Footman
Dingy Footman is a common and widespread resident of Yorkshire. However if you had gone back 150 years this moth was only found in/around Scarborough and at the time was probably the most northerly records. It did retreat from the area and was on really found again in Yorkshire in 1973 and 1988. It then went on a rapid expansion of its distribution and by 2008 it had colonised all of Yorkshire. There are now records for Dingy Footman in the far north of Scotland. If you are new to moth recording - this moth can be identified by its curved wing shape and its likeness to a "melon pip". Dingy footman has two forms - a normal one with a grey-ish hue and its 2nd form "stramineola" which is pictured above (somehow in all my photos I don't have a normal form photographed - I will add it in should I find it). Whilst this second form is common in the UK - it is believed that this is the only place it occurs. Trend wise - it has been on the up since the 2000s and in 2024 was the 23rd most recorded moth in Yorkshire (based on records).
Despite that, there are limited records for within Hull, with only 24 falling within our designated area - of which 22 come from the same area between the allotment & Haltemprice farm as per our previous moth.
Moth 17 - Dusky Sallow (Eremobia ochroleuca) Recorded in session: 1 |
Dusky Sallow
|
Size: 14-16mm Forewing
Flight Season: July - September
Larval Foodplant: Grasses
Total Records: 5,422 Total Specimens: 11,186
Confusion Species: Viper's Bugloss (never recorded in Yorkshire)
Dusky Sallow is a fairly common and widespread resident within Yorkshire. It is another moth that provides a little bit of colour to any recording session. It is more commonly found in the lowland areas in the eastern and central areas of Yorkshire - becoming less common the further West you travel. It has generally been on a steady upward trend since 2000, but mainly staying within the same areas. There are only 2 previous records within Hull, in 2022 & 2023 so again another nice find for the allotment.
Moth 18 - Endotricha flammealis (Rosy Tabby) Recorded in session: 1 |
| Endotricha flammealis |
Size: 18-23mm Wingspan
Flight Season: July - August
Larval Foodplant: Greater Bird's-foot Trefoil
Total Records: 4,811 Total Specimens: 14,000
Confusion Species: n/a
Endotricha flammealis is another fairly new species to Yorkshire having only been first seen in 1991. Over the last 20 years it has started its expansion across Yorkshire and has now been recorded in all 5 Vice-Counties (VC65 being the last in the North-West 2019). Its main distribution is still heavily focussed on central, southern and eastern areas. When fresh, this is another of my favourite species to record with its bold colourations. It is quite easy to find in our local area with 30 specimens previously recorded. Overall in Yorkshire for 2024, it was the 22nd most recorded Micro moth (based on records) with 1,436 specimens.
Moth 19 - Dark/Grey Dagger (Acronicta tridens/psi) Recorded in session: 1 |
| Dark/Grey Dagger |
Size: 17-20mm Forewing
Flight Season: May - August
Larval Foodplant: Broadleaved Trees & Shrubs
Total Records: 11,288 Total Specimens: 16,994
Confusion Species: n/a
So first off - why two names? In very simple terms there are two species of Dagger that lookalike as adults - Grey Dagger & Dark Dagger. There is only 1 way that you can categorically confirm the identity of an adult moth like this and it's not exactly pleasant! The moth would have to be dissected and you would have to have a closer look under a microscope at its...genitalia. This is not something I am interested in doing so any species like this - of which there are several will always be recorded as the "aggregate aka agg.". The only other way is when they're in larval form, as the caterpillars of the species have notable differences in appearance. In Hull, there are 8 previous recorded specimens for Dark/Grey Dagger but if you go out as far as Cottingham, this number is an additional 88 specimens.
Moth 20 - Heart & Dart (Agrotis exclamationis) Recorded in session: 1 |
Heart & Dart
|
Size: 15-19mm Forewing
Flight Season: May - September
Larval Foodplant: Herbaceous Plants
Total Records: 57,117 Total Specimens: 377,500
Confusion Species: Turnip Moth and Heart & Club
Heart & Dart is an extremely abundant moth within Yorkshire, featuring pretty much all across the county. In some areas this can be similar to Dark Arches where it can be deemed another "weed" species where your time and effort gets sapped dealing with them. The population based on the number of records looks ok and quite stable, however if you pay closer attention to the number of specimens - it tells a potentially more worrying story. Since a peak of 22,940 in 2019 it has been on a steady decline pretty much every year and only 5,490 specimens were recorded last year - a difference of 76%. Despite this it was still the 12th most recorded moth of 2024 (based on records - not specimens).
Moth 21 - Large Yellow Underwing (Noctua pronuba)
Recorded in session: 8 |
Large Yellow Underwing
|
Size: 21-26mm Forewing
Flight Season: June - November
Larval Foodplant: Herbaceous Plants & Grasses
Total Records: 108,033 Total Specimens: 1,965,901
Confusion Species: Lunar Yellow Underwing
Ah, the good old Large Yellow Underwing. I will actively state I despise these moths and they are probably the most detested moth amongst recorders. Most moths quite happily go about their business, not these guys. If they're not actively trying to launch themselves at your face, they will spend as much time as possible in the trap, quite frankly p*****g everyone else off! This is made worse when large influxes arrive into the UK usually in autumn - and its hasn't been unknown to have catches of over 1000 in a single evening. The most I have had in a single session was a 148 at RSPB Bempton Cliffs on 11/08/2023. There are several records for this common moth within Hull.
To give a full idea of the sheer numbers, the total specimens are bordering on close to 2 Million for Yorkshire - and given that last year there were 84,107 and the year prior 143,919, it would be incredibly unlikely that, 2,000,000 isn't breached this year. In 2024, it was the most recorded moth with 6,149 records - nearly double that of 2nd place!
Moth 22 - Lesser Yellow Underwing (Noctua comes) Recorded in session: 1 |
Lesser Yellow Underwing
|
Size: 16-21mm Forewing
Flight Season: June - September
Larval Foodplant: Herbaceous & Woody Plants
Total Records: 47,164 Total Specimens: 227,772
Confusion Species: Lunar Yellow Underwing
Again another very common moth, across the whole of Yorkshire which the numbers show. In 2024 this was the 7th most recorded moths with 2,210 records - totalling 7,933 specimens. Like its larger cousin - the Large Yellow Underwing, this species has variable colourings and markings, so extra care does need to be taken for newer recorders to ensure they have the right species. Despite it's common appearance across the county, there are only about c.15-20 records for Hull, so again still nice to record. Moth 24 - Mottled Rustic (Caradina morpheus) Recorded in session: 1 |
| Mottled Rustic |
Size: 13-16mm Forewing
Flight Season: June - August
Larval Foodplant: Herbaceous plants
Total Records: 21,201 Total Specimens: 62,477
Confusion Species: Uncertain & Rustic
A common and widespread resident of Yorkshire, this moth can be found across all 5 Vice-Counties. The biggest issue with this moth is the confusion species of Uncertain & Rustic - which can cause great a great deal of confusion for new moth recorders - you need to check the stigmata on the wings for outlines - or rather lack of in Mottled Rustic. In Hull, this species has had 17 previous specimens recorded.
Moth 25 - Poplar Grey (Subacronicta megacephala) Recorded in session: 1 |
| Poplar Grey |
Size: 17-20mm Forewing
Flight Season: May - August
Larval Foodplant: Poplars, Aspen & Willows
Total Records: 4,615 Total Specimens: 5,589
Confusion Species: Knot Grass & Sycamore
Poplar Grey is a common and widespread resident of Yorkshire, that has been continuing on a steady upward trend since the 2000s. All previous larval records for this moth have been recorded on Black Poplar or Aspen, however it has been suggested it sometimes uses Willows. It is more common in low-lying areas and usually seen in small single digit numbers, with only the occasional double digit showing. In Hull, there are 10 previously recorded specimens.
Moth 26 - Riband Wave (Idaea aversata) Recorded in session: 1 |
Riband Wave
|
Size: 16-16mm Forewing
Flight Season: June - August (Occasional 2nd brood September - October)
Larval Foodplant: Herbaceous plant
Total Records: 51,490 Total Specimens: 190,570
Confusion Species: Plain Wave
A very common and abundant moth across the whole of the county, it is pretty much a species you can guarantee will turn up at most moth recording sessions through the summer - in fact I am surprised we only got 1 Riband Wave all evening. There are two forms for this moth - the plain version above and a banded version f. remutata (see below). Although not all recorders write down which form they get, it is currently suggested about 30% of all records come in the banded form. In Hull, it is a common moth with over 40 specimens recorded in recent years. In 2024 it was the 5th most recorded moth in Yorkshire. |
| Riband Wave - f. remutata |
Moth 27 - Ruby Tiger (Phragmatobia fuliginosa) Recorded in session: 5.JPG) |
| Ruby Tiger |
Size: 14-19mm Forewing
Flight Season: April - June & July - September
Larval Foodplant: Herbaceous plants
Total Records: 10,541 Total Specimens: 23,626
Confusion Species: n/a
Ruby Tiger is a common and widespread resident of Yorkshire featuring in all 5 Vice-Counties. The moth has been gradually increasing in numbers since the 2000s where it started with around 100 specimens per year - and now over 900 specimens each year since 2017. There are two broods through the year with a smaller one in April - June, and the larger one between July & September. There are approximately 25 specimens recorded in Hull but the 5 we recorded, make it the largest count in a single session.
Moth 28 - Scarce Footman (Eilema complana) Recorded in session: 2 |
| Scarce Footman |
Size: 15-18mm Forewing
Flight Season: July - August
Larval Foodplant: Lichens
Total Records: 6,170 Total Specimens: 22,394
Confusion Species: Hoary Footman (Yet to reach Yorkshire)
Scarce Footman is an ever expanding moth across Yorkshire. Mostly focussed around Spurn Point up until 2006 where it decided it needed to test the waters and see what was beyond the horizon. Since then the continued range of this moth keeps progressing at a methodical rate, with specimens now averaging circa 800 per calendar year. This moth has only been recorded 6x in our area of focus and these are the first since 2022 - but most importantly these records will tick off a new 2km square on the distribution map - so a good record to have.
Moth 29 - Shark (Cucullia umbratica) Recorded in session: 2 |
| Shark |
Size: 22-26mm Forewing
Flight Season: June - August
Larval Foodplant: Sow-thistles, wild lettuces, hawks-beards and hawkweeds
Total Records: 1,218 Total Specimens: 1,296
Confusion Species: Chamomile Shark
This moth is probably the moth of the night (well these two in fact!) Shark as a species across Yorkshire is becoming an increasingly uncommon resident. This is largely due to the fact that so many undeveloped areas and brownfield sites are being lost to the ever increasing "demand" for housing and the unnecessary desire for people to "tidy up" natural areas - and this moth is suffering badly because of it.
Whilst specimen counts have never been exceptionally high since the 2000s - peaking in 2014 at 81 specimens and the recent peak of 57 in 2021 - since then the results are a downward spiral - in 2024 it was just 26 specimens. The last recorded specimen in the area of focus for us - was 1978! To find a modern record you travel to the far side of Cottingham, where even then its been 5 years since one was seen. This is without doubt an incredible record for the allotment to hold.
Moth 30 - Shuttle-Shaped Dart (Agrotis puta) Recorded in session: 2 |
| Shuttle-Shaped Dart |
Size: 12-16mm Forewing
Flight Season: April - October (2 broods)
Larval Foodplant: Herbaceous plants
Total Records: 32,697 Total Specimens: 85,273
Confusion Species: n/a
Although Shuttle-Shaped Dart is now deemed to be a widespread and common resident, it was actually quite scarce and rare up until the mid 1970s where it started to expand its range - and it took until 1999 to reach the very north-west and VC 65. Now when you look at its distribution further afield it has clearly continued that spread north and can be found in Scotland. Numbers within the county have had their ups and down, but have now stabilised and will spread between circa 2,500 & 6,500 specimens per year. There are around 30 specimens for our area of Hull so far.
Moth 31 - Small Fan-Foot (Herminia grisealis) Recorded in session: 1 |
| Small Fan-Foot |
Size: 11-13mm forewing
Flight Season: June - August
Larval Foodplant: English Oak, Birches, Hazel, Hawthorn & Sallows
Total Records: 5,884 Total Specimens: 8,378
Confusion Species: Fan-Foot
Small Fan-Foot is a fairly common and widespread moth across Yorkshire. It is the smallest moth within the Fan-Foot group and can easily be confused by its markings, with Fan-Foot. The difference being that the sub-terminal line (the lower dark line) curves down towards the base of the wing tips - whereas in the latter species, its more of a straight line across the wings. The larvae feed on a variety of deciduous leaves including both fresh and withered/fallen. Since 2000 it was on a gradual increase in numbers up until around 2012 when the number of specimens started to plateau, and now each year brings circa 220-600 specimens. Four our recording area, there are 4 previous specimens from 1978, 2018, 2020 & 2022.
Moth 32 - Small Magpie (Anania hortulata) Recorded in session: 1 |
| Small Magpie |
Size: 24-28mm Wingspan
Flight Season: June - July
Larval Foodplant: Nettles, woundworts, horehounds & bindweeds
Total Records: 19,345 Total Specimens: 37,880
Confusion Species: n/a
Small Magpie is another of those annoying species that you scour the moth book for as a newbie and wonder why the only ones that look "similar" and by name are Magpie Moth & Clouded Magpie - have I found a first for Britain - sadly not, this is once again a large "Micro Moth". This boldly marked moth is an abundant and widespread resident across the county. Its larvae feeds from a rolled/spun leaf throughout August and September before hibernating in its cocoon, utilising bark or hollow stems. With the main larval foodplant being Nettles, this is another moth that can easily be affected by the "Great Big Tidy Up". Whether this is playing a part, it is obviously hard to pin down, but the species has been on a gradual decline in Yorkshire since 2018. Back then 3,986 specimens were recorded and its been a gradual slope down since hitting 1,422 specimens in 2024. Despite this it was still the 13th most recorded micro moth in Yorkshire (by records, not specimens, even with a 25% reduction in the number of records). There are around 30 previous specimens recorded within our Hull area.
Moth 33 - Smoky Wainscot (Mythimna impura) Recorded in session: 8 |
Smoky Wainscot
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Size: 14-18mm Forewing
Flight Season: June - August
Larval Foodplant: Grasses
Total Records: 34,368 Total Specimens: 200,555
Confusion Species: Common Wainscot & Southern Wainscot
Smoky Wainscot is an extremely common and widespread resident of Yorkshire. Last year it was 24th on the most recorded moths in Yorkshire (by records not specimens). It has perhaps one of the most stable population trends across the last 25 years with extremely steady peaks and troughs, always falling between circa 3,500 & 8,500 specimens but with an ever increasing number of records submitted and equally at more sites. There are around 20 previous specimens in Hull and our 8 recorded beats the previous high per session of 4.
Moth 34 - Spectacle (Abrostola tripartita) Recorded in session: 1 |
| Spectacle |
Size: 15-17mm Forewing
Flight Season: May - September (2 broods)
Larval Foodplant: Nettles
Total Records: 18,394 Total Specimens: 27,395
Confusion Species: Dark Spectacle
Spectacle is a moth that is very common & widely distributed across Yorkshire as a county. It is pretty much found anywhere that nettles grow! It outnumbers its cousin - Dark Spectacle by approximately 10:1 in terms of recorded moths. Trend wise - it has been on the increase since 2000 where it started with just a couple of hundred records, but now can reliably hit over a 1000 specimens each year, since 2012 (except 2019). It's name comes from the way it looks when viewed front on - the markings on the raised tufts of the thorax appear to resemble a pair of spectacles! (
see below). In Hull, there has only been around 8 modern day records (since 2000) and 3 prior to that.
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Spectacle (Front View)
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Moth 35 - Swallow-Tailed Moth (Ourapteryx sambucaria)
Recorded in session: 1 |
Swallow-Tailed Moth
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Size: 22-30mm Forewing
Flight Season: June - August
Larval Foodplant: Varied trees & shrubs - preferring Ivy
Total Records: 11,750 Total Specimens: 21,041
Confusion Species: n/a
* mostly copied from a previous blog - This large and potentially very vibrant species continues to be a common and widespread moth, across Yorkshire. The larvae whilst predominantly feeding on broad-leaved trees, meaning the species favours woodland habitat, the adults can be seen frequently flying in gardens. There are hints at second broods appearing with records now being found in October and even stretching into Early November with favourable conditions. In regards to Hull, there are around 20 previous specimens recorded.
Moth 36 - Uncertain/Rustic Agg. (Hoplodrina octogenaria/blanda) Recorded in session: 7
 |
| Uncertain/Rustic Agg. |
Size: 13-16mm Forewing
Flight Season: June - August
Larval Foodplant: Herbaceous Plants
Total Records: 5,341 Total Specimens: 35,452 (Both stats here for Uncertain/Rustic Agg.)
Confusion Species: Obviously with each other & Vines Rustic and some Mottled Rustic
Uncertain/Rustic Agg. - 2 moths coined together when in doubt about which species you may have - there is absolutely no shame in popping them together under generalised heading. There are differences that you can use, to decide whether the moth you have is either Uncertain or Rustic - I will list these below (
taken from the Yorkshire Moths website):
General appearance - Uncertain is has a rough texture whilst Rustic is smoother and glossy.
Ground colour - Uncertain is ochreous/yellow-brown whilst Rustic is greyer-brown and colder in tone.
Cross lines - Uncertain has well-defined contrasting cross lines especially the medial band. Rustic has more indistinct bands on a plainer wing.
Reniform stigma (kidney mark) - darker than the ground colour in Uncertain but similar to the ground colour in Rustic.
Flight time - Uncertain tends to emerge about two weeks before Rustic.
For the ease of submitting records, I generally do coin both moths together, however it is something I should have a go at, as getting more accurate data for each species can only be a good thing - and it's a good way to test the brain! There are around 70 records for Hull including where the species have been submitted individually and as Aggregate. If I had to hazard a guess - the moth pictured would be Uncertain.
Moth 37 - White Satin (Leucoma salicis) Recorded in session: 1 |
White Satin
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Size: 18-27mm Forewing
Flight Season: July - August
Larval Foodplant: Aspen, Poplar, Sallows & Willows
Total Records: 3,306 Total Specimens: 4,944
Confusion Species: Yellow-Tail
The final moth - if you've made it this far - thank you and well done, that's some effort 🤣. White Satin is a fairly common but localised resident of Yorkshire. It has never been the type of moth that has become really common, however records over the last 25 years have generally been on the up. Back in the early 2000s it was pretty much single digits for specimens each year, until it went on a bit of a spurt and peaked in 2014 with 645 specimens for the single year. Since then its had its ups and downs, however has never dropped below 170 specimens for a single year. In Hull, there are around 10 previously recorded specimens for this moth.
So there we have it - a full round up of the moths recorded on the allotment on the night of Tuesday 8th July 2015. Along with the usual mentions, a big thank you to Andy for arranging access to the allotment along with the guided tour of his incredible Dome Greenhouse - (think Kew Gardens but the mini allotment version) and some refreshing beers (non-alcoholic for obvious reasons) and also my old boss Tom for popping along and completing the "Trio de papillons de nuit"
If anyone has any questions then please do feel free to leave a comment on the blog or get in touch with Andy and I'm sure he will pass on any relevant information or questions. If anyone has an area/garden etc that they would be interested in seeing what moths are about - then again please let me know and I am sure we can arrange something as the more data we can collect, the better it is for our moths and conservation.
As per normal fashion I will leave a full list of the moths below and the usual but very important message of thanks.
Acentria ephemerella (Water Veneer) 60+
Anania coronata (Elder Pearl) 1
Barred Yellow 1
Bird-Cherry Ermine 2
Box-Tree Moth 4
Bright-Line Brown-Eye 4
Brimstone 1
Buff Arches 1
Campion 1
Chrysoteuchia culmella (Garden Grass-Veneer) 1
Common Footman 5
Coronet 1
Crambus perlella (Satin Grass-Veneer) 1
Cydia pomonella (Codling Moth) 7
Dark Arches 6
Dingy Footman 3
Dusky Sallow 1
Endotricha flammealis (Rosy Tabby) 1
Dark/Grey Dagger 1
Heart & Dart 1
Large Yellow Underwing 8
Lesser Yellow Underwing 1
Mother of Pearl 1
Mottled Rustic 1
Poplar Grey 1
Riband Wave 1
Ruby Tiger 5
Scarce Footman 2
Shark 2
Shuttle-Shaped Dart 2
Small Fan-Foot 1
Small Magpie 1
Smoky Wainscot 8
Spectacle 1
Swallow-Tailed 1
Uncertain/Rustic 8
White Satin 1
If you have made it this far, thank you once again for taking the time out of your day to have a read - any suggestions on format etc are greatly appreciated.
Thanks must be added to the following organisations/websites where some of this data has been extracted:
All of the moth recorders, County Recorders, Vice County Co-ordinators and website admins who make all of this data - make sense!
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