Macro Moths of the Outer Hebrides

The following list contains all the known macro moths to have been recorded in the Outer Hebrides up to 2010.

Notes:

1. The flight period is a guide and many of these moths may be found outside the main flight period noted.

2. The status is very provisional as new data is coming to light (please forgive the pun) all the time. The comments such as common and frequent etc. are only a rough guide as to a species appearance in the last few years. The records that are indicated as old are pre-1980.

Species                                                   Flight period                     Status in Outer Hebrides

Ghost Moth                                             June - August                      Common and widespread

Gold Swift                                               June – July                          Recent record from South Uist – appears to be quite scarce.

Map-winged Swift                                   May - July                           Common and widespread.

Six-spot Burnet                                       June – August                       Common day flying moth in the southern isles.

Pale Eggar                                               August – September             Old record from Harris – caterpillars feed on birch, hawthorn and blackthorn.

Northern Eggar                                        July - August                        Common and widespread.

Fox Moth                                                May - June                           Common and widespread.

Drinker                                                    July - August                         First record from Ardivachar, South Uist, 2009. Larva also seen near Loch Druidibeg.

Emperor                                                  April - May                           Common and widespread on moorland.

Peach Blossom                                        May - July                             First record, Lews Castle Grounds, Stornoway, 2009.

Poplar Lutestring                                      May – August                        Found in mature woodland.

Common Lutestring                                  June – August                        A woodland species.

Grass Emerald                                         June – August                         There is an old record from Barra.

Large Emerald                                         June - August                         One record from Lewis.         

Smoky Wave                                          June – July                              Most recent record from South Uist but there's also an old record from Harris.

Small Fan-footed Wave                           June – August                         First recorded in South Uist, 2005 / 06 where it occurs in well wooded gardens.

Riband Wave                                          June – August                          First record from North Loch Eynort 2010 where it appears to be quite common.    

Vestal                                                     April - November                    Migrant – 3 autumn records in 2006.

Oblique Carpet                                       May – June                             Widespread but never common.

Gem                                                      April - November                     Migrant -Nunton, Benbecula, 2006.

Flame Carpet                                        (May) June – July (August)       Quite common.

Red Carpet                                            June – August                          Common.

Dark-barred Twin-spot Carpet               May – August                         Common and widespread.

Silver-ground Carpet                              May - July                               Common and widespread.

Garden Carpet                                       May – September                    Fairly common and widespread.

Shaded Broad-bar                                 June - August                           Recent records from Barra.

Common Carpet                                    May – October                        Common and widespread. Frequently seen during the day.

Yellow Shell                                          June – August                           Common

Yellow-ringed Carpet                            Not sure – recent record           Previous old record from Lewis but most recently from South Uist in October.

Grey Mountain Carpet                           July – August                            Apparently uncommon.

Beautiful Carpet                                     May - August                           First records, Lews Castle Grounds, Stornoway, 2009.

Dark Spinach                                         July – August                            Apparently rare; most recent record from Nunton in 2006.

Water Carpet                                         April – May                             Recorded from Lewis, North Uist and Barra in the past; most recently from South Uist.

Purple Bar                                             June – July                                Common and widespread.

Striped Twin-spot Carpet                     May – July                                 Widespread.

Chevron                                               July - September                         Common and widespread.

Northern Spinach                                 July – August                              Less common than the above similar species.

Spinach                                                June – August                             Rare.

Barred Straw                                       May - August                              One record from Harris and one from South Uist.

Red-green Carpet                                March – May and                       Prefers well-wooded areas and most recent records from Stornoway and Castle                                                                September - November               Grounds.

Autumn Green Carpet                          March – May and                        Inhabits broadleaved woodland and apparently uncommon.

                                                           September - November

Dark Marbled Carpet                          July – September                         Frequent.

Arran Carpet                                       July – August                               Frequent although can be very difficult to tell from the species below which it is

                                                                                                              generally considered a variation of.

Common Marbled Carpet                   June – September                        Apparently the commonest of the marbled carpets in the islands.

Pine Carpet                                         July – November                         Recently recorded from North Uist.

Grey Pine Carpet                                May – July and                            Widespread and quite common.

                                                          September - November

Chestnut-coloured Carpet                    July - August                              Found around its food plant, Juniper.

Juniper Carpet                                     September – October                 Old records from the southern isles.

Broken-barred Carpet                         May - July                                  Old records from Lewis.

Green Carpet                                      June – August                             Widespread and most frequent in broadleaved woody habitats.

July Highflyer                                      July – October                            Commonest in broadleaved woodland / gardens.

May Highflyer                                     May – July                                  Recent records from Lewis and South Uist.

Ruddy Highflyer                                  May – June                                 Recent records from South Uist but also old records from Lewis and Harris

Slender-striped Rufous                      September - October                   One record from, Leverburgh (Nationally scarce) Harris in 1980

Argent and Sable                               May - June                                  Old records from Lewis. Probable sighting from South Uist in 2010.

Tissue                                               April - May                                  First recorded North Uist 2010.

                                                        August - October

Autumnal Moth                                October – November                   No recent records although has been found on Benbecula, Harris and Lewis.

Small Autumnal Moth                       August – September                     Quite widespread and apparently much commoner than previous species.

Winter Moth                                     October – January                       Recent records from 3 sites in South Uist and Benbecula. Old records from Lewis and

                                                                                                            Harris.

Northern Winter Moth                      October – December                    Old records from Lewis

Small Rivulet                                    June – August                                Widespread in small numbers

Barred Rivulet                                  July – August                                 Recorded from Barra only

Heath Rivulet                                   July – August                                  Recorded from Barra and Lewis

Pretty Pinion                                    May – August                                Quite common and widespread

Grass Rivulet                                    May – July                                    Common and widespread        

Twin-spot Carpet                             June – August                               Often active during the day and probably largely over-looked.

Lead-coloured Pug                          May – June                                    Old record (s) from South Uist

Cloaked Pug                                   June – July                                      Old record (s) from Lewis

Foxglove Pug                                   May – July                                     Recent records from South Uist and old records from North Uist

Netted Pug                                      May – June                                    There are old records from Lewis and St. Kilda – found on rocky coasts

Lime-speck Pug                              June – September                           Common and widespread

Satyr Pug                                        May – June                                     Probably quite widespread

Wormwood / Ling Pug                    June – July                                      The commonest and most widespread pug

Common Pug                                  May – July                                      Recent records from South Uist but also recorded in Lewis and Harris

Currant Pug                                    June – July                                      First recorded in the southern isles in 2010

Grey Pug                                       May – June                                      Probably over-looked with records from South Uist and Lewis.

Thyme Pug                                    June - July                                        Most recently recorded from South Uist, 2009 but also reported from Barra, Lewis   

                                                                                                             and Harris the past.

Narrow-winged Pug                      April – June                                      Widespread and frequent

Golden-rod Pug                             May – June                                      First record was from South Uist 2009 although likely to be more widespread

V-pug                                           May - August                                   First record was from Loch Eynort, South Uist 2010.

Double-striped Pug                        March – May and                            Old records for Lewis but recent ones from South Uist only.

                                                     July – August  

Manchester Treble-bar                  July – September                             Older records from Harris and South Uist with more modern records from Lewis.

Treble-bar                                     July – August                                   Most recent records from South Uist although there are older ones from Harris

Welsh Wave                                 July - August                                    One record Castle Grounds, Stornoway.

Early Tooth-striped                       April - May                                      First recorded from the Castle Grounds in Stornoway, 2007 and subsequently found in

                                                                                                             South Uist.

Magpie                                         June - August                                    Common and widespread species often seen during the day.

Clouded Border                           June - July                                          First record from Castle Grounds, Stornoway, 2009.

Peacock                                      May – June                                         So far only recorded from the Castle Grounds, Stornoway.

Brown Silver-line                         May – June                                         The first record was in 2006 although has proved to be widespread and quite

                                                                                                              common. 

Brimstone                                    June – August                                     Quite common in broadleaved woodland / gardens.

Bordered Beauty                         July - September                                 First record South Uist, 2009.

Early Thorn                                 May – June                                         One record from South Uist, 2007.

Lunar Thorn                                May – June                                         4 were trapped in Lews Castle Grounds, 2009

Scalloped Hazel                          May – June                                         Recorded from woodland in Lewis and South Uist.

Scalloped Oak                            July – August                                      First record from South Uist, 2010.

Feathered Thorn                         September – December                       First recorded Benbecula 2005 and also from Barra and Lewis. Probably more

                                                                                                              widespread.

Pale Brindled Beauty                  January - March                                  Old record from Lewis.

Belted Beauty                            March – May                                      Common on machair Vatersay – Lewis.

Peppered Moth                         May – August                                      A few recent records from Lewis and South Uist.

Dotted Border                          February – April                                  Quite common and probably widespread.

Mottled Umber                         October – January                               Single records from Harris and South Uist.

Mottled Beauty                         June – August                                      Quite common and widespread.

Bordered Grey                         July – August                                       First record from North Loch Eynort, 2010.

Dotted Carpet                          June - September                                 First record in the Castle Grounds, Stornoway, 2009.

Common Heath                        April – June                                         A common, day flying moth of moorland     

Bordered White                       May – July                                           First record from Harris, 2010.

Common White Wave              May – September                                Recent records in South Uist and Lewis.

Common Wave                        May – October                                    Recorded from the Castle Grounds, Stornoway.

Light Emerald                           May – September                                Found in broadleaved woodland in Lewis and South Uist.

Barred Red                              June – August                                      Associated with conifers. Recorded from Lewis and South Uist but probably more 

                                                                                                           widespread.

Scotch Annulet                        July – August                                         Frequent in South Uist; other records come from Benbecula, Barra and Lewis.

Grey Scalloped Bar                 May – August                                       Appears to be uncommon in South Uist, Benbecula and Harris.

Convolvulus Hawkmoth           mainly August – November                   Scarce migrant.

Death’s Head Hawkmoth        mainly August – October                       Rare

Poplar Hawkmoth                     May – August                                      All records come from South Uist where it is quite common.

Hummingbird Hawkmoth           April - December                                 Migrant in apparently increasing numbers although scarce.

Elephant Hawkmoth                  May - August                                       Common in Uist but there are no records from Lewis or Harris at present.

Puss Moth                                May - July                                            Common and widespread.

Sallow Kitten                            June – July                                            Old record (s) from South Uist.

Iron Prominent                          June – July                                            First record from South Uist, 2008 but also found in Lewis, 2009.

Pebble Prominent                      June – July                                           Quite common and widespread.

Lesser Swallow Prominent        May – August                                      Appears to be quite common in Lews Castle Grounds, Stornoway.

Coxcomb Prominent                 May – July                                          Quite common in Lews Castle Grounds.

Small Chocolate-tip                  June – July                                            There are old records from South Uist, Barra and Pabbay.

Wood Tiger                              May – July                                           Quite widespread and usually found during the day.

Garden Tiger                            July – August                                        Common and widespread.

White Ermine                            May – July                                           Common and widespread.

Buff Ermine                              May – July                                            Not as common as previous species but still frequent and widespread.

Ruby Tiger                               May - July                                            Widespread but apparently not common. Occasionally encountered during the day.

Cinnabar                                  May - August                                       First record from South Uist, 2009 with 2 records from 2010.

White-line Dart                        July – September                                  Common and widespread.

Garden Dart                             July – September                                  There are old records from South Uist.

Coast Dart                               July – August                                        Old records come from Lewis, South Uist and Eriskay.

Archer’s Dart                           July – September                                  Frequent along the coast.

Turnip Moth                             May – October                                    Immigrant.

Heart and Dart                         May – August                                       Quite common in the Uists; also recorded from Harris.

Dark Sword-grass                    April – October                                   Regular immigrant.

Sand Dart                                June – July                                           There is an old record from South Uist.

The Flame                                June - July                                            Barra only.

Flame Shoulder                        April – September                               Common and widespread.

Northern Rustic                        June – September                                Appears to be uncommon although widespread.

Dotted Rustic                           July – September                                 Only recent record is from Benbecula although recorded from Lewis, Harris and North

                                                                                                            Uist in the past.

Large Yellow Underwing          June - October                                     Common and widespread.

Lesser Yellow Underwing         June – September                                Widespread in much smaller numbers than the species above.

Lesser Broad-bordered            July – September                                  Recent records from South Uist and Lewis but also recorded from North Uist and

Yellow Underwing                                                                                Harris.

Least Yellow Underwing           July - August                                        First record from Nunton, Benbecula, 2006.

Double Dart                             June – August                                       Recently recorded from Lewis and South Uist; plus there is an old record from Harris.

Autumnal Rustic                        August – October                                Common and widespread.

True Lover’s Knot                    June – August                                      Common and widespread.

Pearly Underwing                     Mostly September                                Immigrant.

                                                – October

Ingrailed Clay                           July – August                                        Fairly common and widespread.

Barred Chestnut                       August – September                              Recorded in Lewis, Harris and South Uist.

Purple Clay                              June – August                                       Widespread but not common.

Small Square-spot                    June – July                                           Common and widespread.

Northern Dart                           June – August                                      Apparently recorded from Lewis and Harris.

Setaceous Hebrew Character   July – August                                        Recent record from South Uist (2010) but also old records form Lewis, Harris and

                                                                                                            Barra. 

Triple-spotted Clay                   June – August                                      Recent records from Benbecula and South Uist.

Double Square-spot                 June – August                                       Recently seen in South Uist.

Dotted Clay                             July – August                                        Common and widespread.

Neglected Rustic                      August – September                             Recorded from Lewis, Harris and South Uist.

Six-striped Rustic                     July – August                                        Common and widespread.

Square-spot Rustic                   July – October                                     Common and widespread.

Heath Rustic                             August – September                             Fairly common.

Gothic                                      June – July                                           Old record (s) from Barra, most recent from South Uist, 2010.

Great Brocade                          July - September                                 Immigrant with no recent records in the islands.

Green Arches                           June – July                                           First records are from Lews Castle Grounds, 2009.

Red Chestnut                            April – May                                        Common and widespread.

Beautiful Yellow                       June – July                                           Recent records of this day flying moth come from Lewis and South Uist.

Underwing

Broad-bordered                       May – June                                         There are old records from Lewis and Harris. Now considered a Red Data Book

White Underwing                                                                                 Species.

Shears                                      May - July                                           Fairly common and widespread.

Grey Arches                             June – July                                           The first record was from Lews Castle Grounds, 2009.

Cabbage Moth                         Probably June – July                            There are a few records from Lewis, Harris and South Uist – possibly overlooked

                                                                                                            although probably not common.

Broom Moth                            May – July                                           Fairly common and widespread.

Pale-shouldered Brocade         May – July                                           Recent record from South Uist but apparently recorded widely in the past.

Bright-line Brown-eye              May – July                                           Common and widespread.

Glaucous Shears                      May – July                                           Fairly common and widespread.

Campion                                  May – June                                          Common and widespread.

Marbled Coronet                     May – July                                           Recent records from Lewis and South Uist.

Lychnis                                    June – July                                           Recorded in South Uist, plus an old record from Vatersay.

Antler Moth                            July – September                                  Common and widespread.

Hedge Rustic                          August – September                              Frequent in Uist and Barra.

Pine Beauty                            March – May                                        Usually fairly scarce in Lewis and South Uist although has reached epidemic proportions

                                                                                                           in Lewis. 

Powdered Quaker                  April – May                                          Recorded from South Uist only.

Clouded Drab                        March – May                                        Common and widespread.

Hebrew Character                 March – May                                         Common and widespread.

Smoky Wainscot                    June - August                                         Common and widespread.

. 

Common Wainscot                 July - August                                          Status uncertain but recent record from South Uist, 2010

Shark                                     June – August                                         Fairly common and widespread although not recorded from Lewis.

Minor Shoulder-knot              July – August                                          Recorded from Lewis, Harris and South Uist.

Brindled Ochre                        April – May and                                     Fairly common and widespread.

                                               September - October

Northern Deep-brown Dart     August – September                               Fairly common and widespread.

Black Rustic                           September – October                             Apparently quite scarce in Lewis, Harris and South Uist.

Red Sword-grass                   March – May and                                   Probably widespread in small numbers.

                                              September - November   

Early Grey                              March – May                                         Recorded from South Uist and Barra.

Dark Brocade                       May – August                                         Fairly common and widespread.

Grey Chi                               August – September                                Recorded from Lewis and Harris.

Chestnut                               September - May                                    First recorded from South Uist, 2009.

Brick                                    August – December                                 There is an old record from Barra.

Red-line Quaker                   September – November                            Fairly common and widespread.

Yellow-line Quaker              September – November                           One recent record from South Uist, 2009.

Lunar Underwing                 August – October                                     A few records from widely scattered sites in Harris, Benbecula and South Uist.

Orange Sallow                     August - October                                     Old record from Lewis.

Pink-barred Sallow              August - September                                 Recent records from Benbecula and South Uist.

Sallow                                 August – September                                Recorded from South Uist, 2010. Old records from Lewis and Barra.

Grey Dagger                        May – August                                          Recent records from Lews Castle Grounds and old one(s) from South Uist.

Light Knot Grass                 May – July                                               Recent records from South Uist but also old records from Benbecula, Eriskay and Barra.

Sweet Gale Moth                May – June                                              Apparently very local in South Uist.

Knot Grass                         May – July                                               Common and widespread.

Coronet                              June – July                                                First recorded Lews Castle Grounds, 2009.

Mouse Moth                       July – September                                      Common and widespread.

Brown Rustic                      June – July                                               Recorded from Lewis and Harris.

Small Angle Shades             June – July                                              Widespread but apparently uncommon.

Angle Shades                      Mainly May – October                            Widespread and frequent immigrant and probable resident.

                                           (can occur in any month) 

Dun-bar                              July – September                                     First record from South Uist, 2009.

Dark Arches                        June – September                                   Common - abundant and widespread.

Light Arches                        June – August                                          Common and widespread.

Clouded-bordered Brindle   May – July                                               Common and widespread.

Confused                             July – September                                     Recorded from most of the main islands in small  numbers but probably overlooked.

Dusky Brocade                   June – July                                               Common and widespread.

Rustic Shoulder-knot           May – July                                              Old records from Lewis, North Uist and Barra.

Double Lobed                    June – August                                          Appears to be very local in South Uist.

Middle-barred Minor          June – August                                          Common and widespread.

Cloaked Minor                  July – September                                      Most recent record from South Uist with older records from Eriskay and Mingulay.

Common Rustic                 July – August                                            Common and widespread.

Small Dotted Buff              June – August                                            Recent records from South Uist and old one(s) from Harris.

Small Wainscot                 August – September                                   Common and widespread.

Flounced Rustic                August – September                                   Common and widespread.

Large Ear                         August – September                                    The most common and widespread of the ear moth species.

Saltern Ear                       August – September                                   Uncertain although reported as being widespread in the past.

Crinan Ear                        August – September                                   Recent records from South Uist and Benbecula confirmed by examination of genitalia.

Rosy Rustic                      August - October                                       Common and widespread.

Haworth’s Minor              August – September                                   Fairly common and widespread.

Crescent                           July – September                                       Common and widespread.

Large Wainscot                 August – October                                     Uncommon in Benbecula and South Uist but probably more widespread.

Uncertain                          June – August                                            First record, South Uist, 2009.

Rustic                               June – August                                            Recent records from South Uist and an old one from Barra.

Small Mottled Willow       June – October                                          Immigrant.

                                        (possible any month)

Mottled Rustic                  June – August                                            Fairly common in South Uist; also recorded from North Uist.

Pale Mottled Rustic          May – October                                          A handful of recent records from Benbecula but also widely reported in the past.

Anomalous                       August – September                                   Widespread but uncommon.

Scarce Bordered Straw    Mostly September                                      Rare migrant, first record Benbecula, 2006.

Bordered Straw               Mostly June - September                            Rare migrant, first record, Ardivachar, 2009.

Silver Hook                     May – August                                             First recorded South Uist, 2010.

Nut-tree Tussock             May – July                                                 First record from South Uist, 2010.

Burnished Brass               June - August                                             Common and widespread.

Gold Spot                        May - September                                       Common and widespread.

Lempke’s Gold Spot        July - August                                              First records from South Uist in 2009 but increasing generally in Scotland.

Silver Y                           Mostly May - September                            Common migrant.

                                       (may occur in any month)

Beautiful Golden Y           June - August                                              Common and widespread.

Gold Spangle                   June – August                                              An old record from Barra, recent ones from South Uist, 2010.

Scarce Silver Y                June – August                                              Fairly common around broadleaved woods / gardens.

Dark Spectacle                June – August                                              First record, South Uist, 2010.

Spectacle                         May – July                                                   Common and widespread.

Mother Shipton                May – July                                                   Old record(s) from Harris.

Herald                             March – June and                                         Recorded from Benbecula and South Uist.

                                       August – November         

Small Purple-barred         May – July                                                    There is an old record from South Uist.

Straw Dot                        June – July                                                     First records in 2006 although subsequently proved to be widespread and quite

                                                                                                             common.

Snout                               June – August                                                Fairly common and widespread.

Pinion-streaked Snout       June - August                                                First record in Lewis in 2006 but easily over-looked as a micro and probably

                                                                                                             widespread; now also seen in North and South Uist too.

258 species of macro moth have been recorded up to September 2010 (not including Arran Carpet).

Records that require further details:

Cousin German: An old record from Barra must be thought extremely doubtful as this species is largely restricted to birch woodland in the Highlands of central Scotland.

Shoulder-striped Wainscot: There is an old record from Berneray, North Uist and although widespread in England and Wales this species is largely restricted to the east of Scotland.

Sword-grass:  Jamie Boyle reported one from Grenitote around 2004 (ish). Although the record is probably fine; due to a lack of  evidence e.g. a photograph and the observers lack of experience previously with this species, the record is not included in the main list. Until further evidence is forthcoming, this species will remain pended due to its scarcity in Scotland and the UK.