Flying Tonight Early May (Week 19)

The following is a list of the 60 moths most commonly reported between 2011 and 2017 in week 19, early May, with the most common first.  A list of other species recorded in smaller numbers is included at the end. This data is taken from the county moth recorders database and has not been fully verified. For more information about each species please visit UK Moths website.

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Common name Taxon RES B&S Total number 2011 – 17 Distribution map & phenology, click to see larger images
Shuttle-shaped Dart Agrotis puta 73.325 2092 1341
Common Quaker Orthosia cerasi 73.244 2187 927
Tawny Shears Hadena perplexa 73.286 2167 851
Hebrew Character Orthosia gothica 73.249 2190 789
Flame Shoulder Ochropleura plecta 73.329 2102 694
Light Feathered Rustic Agrotis cinerea 73.316 2084 686
Brimstone Moth Opisthograptis luteolata 70.226 1906 645
Muslin Moth Diaphora mendica 72.022 2063 376
Double-striped Pug Gymnoscelis rufifasciata 70.141 1862 348
Early Grey Xylocampa areola 73.069 2243 326
Brindled Pug Eupithecia abbreviata 70.156 1852 322
Angle Shades Phlogophora meticulosa 73.113 2306 317
Clouded Drab Orthosia incerta 73.242 2188 302
Treble Lines Charanyca trigrammica 73.101 2380 264
Heart & Dart Agrotis exclamationis 73.317 2089 260
Pale Mottled Willow Caradrina clavipalpis 73.095 2389 170
Pale Tussock Calliteara pudibunda 72.015 2028 162
Swallow Prominent Pheosia tremula 71.017 2007 158
Least Black Arches Nola confusalis 74.004 2078 158
Waved Umber Menophra abruptaria 70.257 1936 145
Rustic Shoulder-knot Apamea sordens 73.158 2334 139
Red Twin-spot Carpet Xanthorhoe spadicearia 70.051 1724 136
Pebble Prominent Notodonta ziczac 71.013 2003 133
Green Carpet Colostygia pectinataria 70.1 1776 132
Common Swift Korscheltellus lupulina 3.002 17 126
Common Pug Eupithecia vulgata 70.183 1834 115
Powdered Quaker Orthosia gracilis 73.247 2186 114
Nut-tree Tussock Colocasia coryli 73.032 2425 111
Bright-line Brown-eye Lacanobia oleracea 73.267 2160 103
Orange Footman Eilema sororcula 72.049 2043 103
Yellow Belle Aspitates ochrearia 70.294 1968 102
Oak-tree Pug Eupithecia dodoneata 70.157 1853 102
Silver Y Autographa gamma 73.015 2441 91
Cinnabar Tyria jacobaeae 72.031 2069 87
Turnip Moth Agrotis segetum 73.319 2087 85
Knot Grass Acronicta rumicis 73.045 2289 84
Garden Carpet Xanthorhoe fluctuata 70.049 1728 84
White Ermine Spilosoma lubricipeda 72.02 2060 81
Yellow-barred Brindle Acasis viretata 70.2 1883 80
Great Prominent Peridea anceps 71.016 2005 78
Lunar Marbled Brown Drymonia ruficornis 71.011 2015 72
Speckled Yellow Pseudopanthera macularia 70.229 1909 71
Chocolate-tip Clostera curtula 71.027 2019 69
Common Marbled Carpet Dysstroma truncata 70.097 1764 69
Maiden’s Blush Cyclophora punctaria 70.036 1680 68
Common Carpet Epirrhoe alternata 70.061 1738 64
Brindled Beauty Lycia hirtaria 70.248 1927 64
Lesser Swallow Prominent Pheosia gnoma 71.018 2006 63
Lime-speck Pug Eupithecia centaureata 70.173 1825 61
Broad-barred White Hecatera bicolorata 73.279 2164 59
Pale Prominent Pterostoma palpina 71.02 2011 55
Setaceous Hebrew Character Xestia c-nigrum 73.359 2126 54
Chinese Character Cilix glaucata 65.007 1651 54
Light Brocade Lacanobia w-latinum 73.263 2157 53
Small Quaker Orthosia cruda 73.245 2182 52
Poplar Hawk-moth Laothoe populi 69.003 1981 51
Vine’s Rustic Hoplodrina ambigua 73.099 2384 50
Brown Silver-line Petrophora chlorosata 70.222 1902 50
Dew Moth Setina irrorella 72.05 2036 49
Scalloped Hazel Odontopera bidentata 70.24 1920 47

Other species recorded in this week in smaller numbers (unverified data):

Common name Taxon RES B&S Total number 2011 – 17
Iron Prominent Notodonta dromedarius 71.012 2000 45
Spectacle Abrostola tripartita 73.001 2450 45
Mottled Pug Eupithecia exiguata 70.184 1819 45
Oblique Striped Phibalapteryx virgata 70.039 1718 44
Dark Sword-grass Agrotis ipsilon 73.327 2091 44
Streamer Anticlea derivata 70.067 1747 43
Buff-tip Phalera bucephala 71.025 1994 43
Clouded Border Lomaspilis marginata 70.207 1887 42
Seraphim Lobophora halterata 70.198 1879 42
Marbled Minor agg. Oligia strigilis agg. 73.1731 2337x 41
Pebble Hook-tip Drepana falcataria 65.005 1648 40
Cabbage Moth Mamestra brassicae 73.274 2154 40
Common Wave Cabera exanthemata 70.278 1956 40
Spruce Carpet Thera britannica 70.079 1769 39
White-spotted Pug Eupithecia tripunctaria 70.16 1835 39
Oak Hook-tip Watsonalla binaria 65.002 1646 38
White-point Mythimna albipuncta 73.297 2194 36
Pine Beauty Panolis flammea 73.241 2179 36
Early Thorn Selenia dentaria 70.237 1917 35
V-Pug Chloroclystis v-ata 70.142 1858 33
Grey Birch Aethalura punctulata 70.274 1951 33
Mother Shipton Euclidia mi 72.084 2462 30
Coxcomb Prominent Ptilodon capucina 71.021 2008 28
Blood-vein Timandra comae 70.029 1682 27
Hummingbird Hawk-moth Macroglossum stellatarum 69.01 1984 26
Herald Scoliopteryx libatrix 72.001 2469 25
Buff Ermine Spilosoma lutea 72.019 2061 24
Light Emerald Campaea margaritaria 70.283 1961 24
Poplar Grey Subacronicta megacephala 73.046 2278 24
Small Elephant Hawk-moth Deilephila porcellus 69.017 1992 23
Scalloped Hook-tip Falcaria lacertinaria 65.001 1645 23
Mullein Cucullia verbasci 73.058 2221 22
Scorched Carpet Ligdia adustata 70.208 1888 22
Broken-barred Carpet Electrophaes corylata 70.086 1773 21
Small Phoenix Ecliptopera silaceata 70.094 1759 21
Grey Pine Carpet Thera obeliscata 70.081 1768 21
Early Tooth-striped Trichopteryx carpinata 70.202 1881 21
Silver-ground Carpet Xanthorhoe montanata 70.054 1727 21
Willow Beauty Peribatodes rhomboidaria 70.258 1937 20
Puss Moth Cerura vinula 71.003 1995 20
Purple Thorn Selenia tetralunaria 70.239 1919 20
Dark / Grey Dagger Acronicta tridens/psi 73.0381 2284x 20
Marbled Brown Drymonia dodonaea 71.01 2014 20
Engrailed Ectropis bistortata 70.27 1947 19
Common White Wave Cabera pusaria 70.277 1955 17
Toadflax Brocade Calophasia lunula 73.059 2223 17
Nutmeg Anarta trifolii 73.255 2145 17
Shears Hada plebeja 73.273 2147 17
Red Chestnut Cerastis rubricosa 73.336 2139 17
Small Purple-barred Phytometra viridaria 72.067 2470 16
Fern Horisme tersata 70.127 1782 16
Peppered Moth Biston betularia 70.252 1931 15
Peacock Moth Macaria notata 70.211 1889 15
Foxglove Pug Eupithecia pulchellata 70.151 1817 15
Red-green Carpet Chloroclysta siterata 70.095 1760 15
Splendid Brocade Lacanobia splendens 73.268 2160a 14
Large Yellow Underwing Noctua pronuba 73.342 2107 14
Cream Wave Scopula floslactata 70.027 1693 13
Pale Oak Beauty Hypomecis punctinalis 70.268 1944 13
Treble-bar Aplocera plagiata 70.192 1867 12
Lime Hawk-moth Mimas tiliae 69.001 1979 12
May Highflyer Hydriomena impluviata 70.075 1778 12
Small Dusty Wave Idaea seriata 70.008 1707 12
Fox Moth Macrothylacia rubi 66.008 1638 11
Sallow Kitten Furcula furcula 71.005 1997 11
Figure of Eighty Tethea ocularis 65.01 1654 11
Rivulet Perizoma affinitata 70.132 1802 11
Clouded Silver Lomographa temerata 70.28 1958 11
Chamomile Shark Cucullia chamomillae 73.053 2214 11
Lychnis Hadena bicruris 73.281 2173 11
Buttoned Snout Hypena rostralis 72.004 2480 10
Double Kidney Ipimorpha retusa 73.212 2311 10
Small Waved Umber Horisme vitalbata 70.126 1781 10
Pretty Chalk Carpet Melanthia procellata 70.128 1784 10
Latticed Heath Chiasmia clathrata 70.218 1894 10
Eyed Hawk-moth Smerinthus ocellata 69.002 1980 10
White Spot Hadena albimacula 73.284 2172 10
Cream-spot Tiger Arctia villica 72.027 2058 10
Mottled Rustic Caradrina morpheus 73.092 2387 10
Scorched Wing Plagodis dolabraria 70.224 1904 9
Sandy Carpet Perizoma flavofasciata 70.138 1808 9
Lesser Treble-bar Aplocera efformata 70.193 1868 9
Bird’s Wing Dypterygia scabriuscula 73.105 2301 8
Burnet Companion Euclidia glyphica 72.083 2463 8
Campion Sideridis rivularis 73.276 2166 8
Common Wainscot Mythimna pallens 73.291 2199 8
Satin Wave Idaea subsericeata 70.009 1709 8
Lunar Thorn Selenia lunularia 70.238 1918 8
Poplar Lutestring Tethea or 65.011 1655 8
Coronet Craniophora ligustri 73.047 2291 8
Flame Axylia putris 73.328 2098 7
Purple Bar Cosmorhoe ocellata 70.087 1752 7
Sharp-angled Peacock Macaria alternata 70.212 1890 7
Square Spot Paradarisa consonaria 70.272 1949 7
Satellite Eupsilia transversa 73.21 2256 7
Dotted Chestnut Conistra rubiginea 73.197 2260 7
Dark-barred Twin-spot Carpet Xanthorhoe ferrugata 70.052 1725 7
Dark Spectacle Abrostola triplasia 73.002 2449 7
Reed Dagger Simyra albovenosa 73.035 2290 7
Alder Moth Acronicta alni 73.036 2281 7
Large Nutmeg Apamea anceps 73.157 2333 7
Birch Mocha Cyclophora albipunctata 70.032 1677 7
Dog’s Tooth Lacanobia suasa 73.266 2159 6
Chestnut Conistra vaccinii 73.194 2258 6
Ruby Tiger Phragmatobia fuliginosa 72.024 2064 6
Common Heath Ematurga atomaria 70.275 1952 6
Uncertain Hoplodrina octogenaria 73.096 2381 6
Dwarf Pug Eupithecia tantillaria 70.162 1857 6
Obscure Wainscot Leucania obsoleta 73.302 2204 6
Oak Nycteoline Nycteola revayana 74.009 2423 6
Ochreous Pug Eupithecia indigata 70.171 1844 6
Currant Pug Eupithecia assimilata 70.182 1832 6
Cream-bordered Green Pea Earias clorana 74.011 2418 6
Twin-spotted Quaker Anorthoa munda 73.25 2189 6
Northern Drab Orthosia opima 73.248 2184 6
Mottled Beauty Alcis repandata 70.265 1941 5
Tawny-barred Angle Macaria liturata 70.214 1893 5
Grey Pug Eupithecia subfuscata 70.19 1837 5
Frosted Green Polyploca ridens 65.015 1660 5
Emperor Moth Saturnia pavonia 68.001 1643 5
Yellow-legged Clearwing Synanthedon vespiformis 52.012 374 5
Lead-coloured Drab Orthosia populeti 73.246 2185 5
Scarce Prominent Odontosia carmelita 71.023 2010 4
Grass Rivulet Perizoma albulata 70.137 1807 4
Mottled Umber Erannis defoliaria 70.256 1935 4
Sycamore Acronicta aceris 73.039 2279 4
Winter Moth Operophtera brumata 70.106 1799 4
Flame Carpet Xanthorhoe designata 70.053 1722 4
Plain Wave Idaea straminata 70.018 1715 4
Brown-line Bright-eye Mythimna conigera 73.29 2192 4
Maple Prominent Ptilodon cucullina 71.022 2009 4
Barred Umber Plagodis pulveraria 70.223 1903 3
Peach Blossom Thyatira batis 65.008 1652 3
Clouded-bordered Brindle Apamea crenata 73.156 2326 3
Small Yellow Underwing Panemeria tenebrata 73.048 2397 3
Narrow-winged Pug Eupithecia nanata 70.168 1846 3
Snout Hypena proboscidalis 72.003 2477 3
Bloxworth Snout Hypena obsitalis 72.006 2478 3
Sand Dart Agrotis ripae 73.323 2093 3
Poplar Kitten Furcula bifida 71.007 1998 3
Dingy Footman Eilema griseola 72.044 2044 3
Mocha Cyclophora annularia 70.031 1676 3
Shoulder-stripe Earophila badiata 70.066 1746 3
Small Square-spot Diarsia rubi 73.334 2123 3
Common Footman Eilema lurideola 72.045 2050 3
Heart & Club Agrotis clavis 73.32 2088 3
Middle-barred Minor Oligia fasciuncula 73.176 2340 3
White-pinion Spotted Lomographa bimaculata 70.279 1957 2
Netted Pug Eupithecia venosata 70.155 1823 2
Mullein Wave Scopula marginepunctata 70.023 1689 2
Burnished Brass Diachrysia chrysitis 73.012 2434 2
White Colon Sideridis turbida 73.275 2152 2
Feathered Ranunculus Polymixis lichenea 73.235 2255 2
Green Silver-lines Pseudoips prasinana 74.008 2422 2
Small Clouded Brindle Apamea unanimis 73.159 2331 2
Freyer’s Pug Eupithecia intricata 70.176 1827 2
Pinion-spotted Pug Eupithecia insigniata 70.174 1820 2
Rustic Hoplodrina blanda 73.097 2382 2
Small White Wave Asthena albulata 70.111 1875 2
Dusky Hook-tip Drepana curvatula 65.004 1649 2
Broom Moth Ceramica pisi 73.271 2163 2
Bordered White Bupalus piniaria 70.276 1954 2
Lobster Moth Stauropus fagi 71.009 1999 2
Pale Pinion Lithophane socia 73.201 2236 2
L-album Wainscot Mythimna l-album 73.3 2202 2
Gold Spot Plusia festucae 73.022 2439 1
Shark Cucullia umbratica 73.052 2216 1
Small Emerald Hemistola chrysoprasaria 70.302 1673 1
Clay Triple-lines Cyclophora linearia 70.037 1681 1
Double Square-spot Xestia triangulum 73.361 2128 1
Plain Golden Y Autographa jota 73.017 2443 1
Levant Blackneck Tathorhynchus exsiccata 72.065 2296 1
Barred Tooth-striped Trichopteryx polycommata 70.201 1880 1
Small Fan-foot Herminia grisealis 72.055 2492 1
Alder Kitten Furcula bicuspis 71.006 1996 1
Riband Wave Idaea aversata 70.016 1713 1
Miller Acronicta leporina 73.04 2280 1
Bordered Straw Heliothis peltigera 73.074 2403 1
Short-cloaked Moth Nola cucullatella 74.003 2077 1
Water Carpet Lampropteryx suffumata 70.103 1750 1
Minor Shoulder-knot Brachylomia viminalis 73.22 2225 1
Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing Noctua fimbriata 73.343 2110 1
Smoky Wainscot Mythimna impura 73.293 2198 1
Green Pug Pasiphila rectangulata 70.144 1860 1
Ingrailed Clay Diarsia mendica 73.333 2120 1
Yellow Shell Camptogramma bilineata 70.059 1742 1
Dark Arches Apamea monoglypha 73.162 2321 1
Lead-coloured Pug Eupithecia plumbeolata 70.153 1814 1
Dingy Shell Euchoeca nebulata 70.112 1874 1
Small Blood-vein Scopula imitaria 70.024 1690 1
Privet Hawk-moth Sphinx ligustri 69.006 1976 1
Cypress Pug Eupithecia phoeniceata 70.159 1855 1
Little Emerald Jodis lactearia 70.303 1674 1
Varied Coronet Hadena compta 73.282 2170 1
Shoulder-striped Wainscot Leucania comma 73.301 2205 1
Lesser Yellow Underwing Noctua comes 73.345 2109 1
Common Rustic agg. Mesapamea secalis agg. 73.1691 2343x 1
Water Ermine Spilosoma urticae 72.021 2062 1
Common Fan-foot Pechipogo strigilata 72.056 2488 1
Marbled Coronet Hadena confusa 73.283 2171 1
Striped Hawk-moth Hyles livornica 69.015 1990 1
Brindled White-spot Parectropis similaria 70.273 1950 1
Barred Hook-tip Watsonalla cultraria 65.003 1647 1
Small Engrailed Ectropis crepuscularia 70.271 1948 1
Swallow-tailed Moth Ourapteryx sambucaria 70.243 1922 1
Scarce Footman Eilema complana 72.046 2047 1
Red Sword-grass Xylena vetusta 73.209 2241 1
Pale Brindled Beauty Phigalia pilosaria 70.247 1926 1
Tawny Pinion Lithophane semibrunnea 73.2 2235 1
Small Mottled Willow Spodoptera exigua 73.087 2385 1
Shaded Pug Eupithecia subumbrata 70.189 1840 1
Yellow-tail Euproctis similis 72.013 2030 1
Angle-barred Pug Eupithecia innotata 70.169 1848 1
Straw Dot Rivula sericealis 72.002 2474 1
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