This page is intended to serve as an indication of the butterflies and moths recently seen in the Yorkshire region (the Yorkshire Moths group also provides good information on moth sightings). Sightings don't have to be rare or unusual, the idea is to give other website users an idea of what to look out for. If you have sightings to report, send an e-mail to the webmaster with details of what you saw, the date you saw it and the general area in which it was. If you took any pictures on that day that you would like to share then include your favourite picture with the e-mail (we are looking for current photos, rather than your best pictures from the archives). We encourage you to submit your sightings to your Vice County Recorder details of whom can be found on the Recorders page. There is a standard form for recording butterflies which can be downloaded here and there is a checklist and notes about moth recording in Yorkshire which can be downloaded here. Click on the small picture or the links in the individual reports to see any attached photos - please note that
Images are the property of the photographer and should not be reproduced without permission.

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6th July 2008
Nick Hall went to Sherburn Willows and surroundings yesterday where he saw 5 Six-spot Burnets, 1 Large Skipper, numerous Meadow Brown and Ringlets. Dave Howson reports that there were two White-letter Hairstreak on an Ilkley tree on the 3rd July. Dave has received several reports of Northern Brown Argus in Upper Wharfedale from 24th June onwards, the butterfly has been seen by Dave himself, David and Midge Leather, Gerald Light, and Paul Millard. Paul also reported a Dark Green Fritillary (our first sighting) on 3rd July near Kettlewell. Lee and Jax Westmoreland caught their first ever Varied Coronet overnight on the 4th-5th July. Sheila Hirst spotted this Foxglove Pug in her Brockholes garden. It was good to see some of you at the YNU VC65 Field Event at Thorp Perrow Arboretum yesterday. Despite the sometimes poor weather, a good day was had by all. Charlie Fletcher, Jill Warwick and Diane Bowes set the moth traps overnight capturing over 80 species of moth. David Baker photographed this Green Oak Tortrix (Tortrix viridana) and Green Arches. When the weather cleared, a walk in the grounds gave further sightings of Meadow Brown, Ringlet and Green-veined White along with Mullein Moth larva which was photographed by Jax Westmoreland. Over in Sheffield Ange Garrod has captured her first Barred Yellow and new for this year a Common Emerald and Double-striped Pug.

5th July 2008
Derek Parkinson reports that the Hawthorn Moth (Scythropia crataegella) now appears in his Baildon garden in early July every year.Derek says that it is one of his favourite micros. This one was caught last night. Ange Garrod in Sheffield reports Bramble-shoot Moth, Marbled Beauty (new for garden) and Cinnabar (new for year) in the past few days. David Baker in Tadcaster has captured Barred Yellow, Barred Straw and Large Fruit-tree Tortrix (Archips podana). Lee and Jax Westmoreland went to Brown Rigg Beck yesterday where they saw lots of Peacock larvae, a newly emerged Meadow Brown, Small and Large Skipper, Green-veined White and Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary.

4th July 2008
New in the Scarborough moth trap for Lee and Jax Westmoreland this morning was this beautiful Swallow-tailed Moth. Charlie Fletcher tells us that Michael Flowers' road casualty moth is an Old Lady - fancy an old lady being hit by a car. Michael has been out and about today spotting his (and our) first Gatekeepers (with more than one again) at Kilnsea and then at Spurn Point, he says there was a nice selection, but only small numbers of Brimstone (bright, but tatty), Red Admiral, Peacock caterpillar, Ringlet, Large White, Small Heath, Green-veined White, Speckled Wood & Meadow Brown. Damian Money spotted Small Skipper (with second photo) and Ringlet (with second photo) in Skelton. Tony Butler reports 2 Gatekeepers (joint first sighting), 151 Marbled Whites at Sprotborough followed he says, "by a measly" 23 Marbled Whites at the nearby earth centre! Paul Brothers, Karon Sharp and Julian Matthews were at Brockadales today where Paul tells us that at last there were some decent butterflies to record - we should say so - their totals were 1 Red Admiral, 1 Small Tortoiseshell, 2 Large Skippers, 6 Small Skippers, 6+ Gatekeepers (joint first sighting), 150+ Meadow Browns, 150+ Ringlets, 2 male Brimstones, 200+ Marbled Whites, (with second photo showing the underwing), a Comma, a Cinnabar Moth and 3 Six-spotted Burnets !!! David Baker in Tadcaster has captured Dusky Brocade and well behaved Small Blood-vein and Common White Wave (tell us your secret David!).

3rd July 2008
Jackie Dawson reports Marbled White and Small Heath at Wharram Quarry. David Baker recorded these Marbled Beauty overnight and says that picture one and picture two give a good idea of how well camouflaged (or not) they can be. Michael Flowers was also at Wharram Quarry today where his sightings included Marbled White (this one newly emerged and pumping its apparently damaged wings), Small Heath, Ringlet, Common Blue and Meadow Brown. Lee and Jax Westmoreland were out on Fylingdales Moor today where they saw Common Blue, Small Heath, Ringlet and Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary along with Clouded Buff and Grass Wave. The Scarborough moth trap contained Bordered Sallow this morning. Terry Rowe was at Lady Spring Wood near Malton today where he saw Meadow Brown and Ringlet.

2nd July 2008
Ange Garrod in Sheffield has captured Emmetia marginea, Uncertain, Pale Mottled Willow, Small Dusty Wave, Ash Bud Moth (Prays fraxinella) and Cork Moth (Nemapogon cloacella) over the past few days. David Baker in Tadcaster has added Dipleurina lacustrata to his species list for this year along with Yellow Shell and Swallow-tailed Moth. In Scarborough, the moth trap contained a number of new species for the year including Blood Vein, Light Arches and Marbled Beauty along with two species new to the garden Foxglove Pug and Poplar Grey for Lee and Jax Westmoreland. In Calley Heath near Pocklington Michael Flowers reports Common Blue, Meadow Brown and Ringlet but he says they were not in the numbers you would expect at this time of year, in a very rich grassland habitat.

1st July 2008
Maurice Gordon found this Common Emerald in his Kirk Ella kitchen today. Sheila Hirst reports from Brockholes where she says that the last month has been very poor for butterflies, there have been a few visits from whites but nothing else. Today the weather was very warm and sunny and a Meadow Brown came into the garden and stayed on the small Hebe and Dactylorhizas. Martin Greenland reports the first sighting of a White-letter Hairstreak at Roche Abbey today. David Baker reports the the catch in his Tadcaster garden included Riband Wave, Marbled Beauty, Fan-foot and Stenoptilia milleridactyla. New in the Scarborough moth trap for Lee and Jax Westmoreland was this Gothic. A walk around Bempton Cliffs today produced lots of Gannet sightings but only two Ringlets, a Chimney Sweeper and a Large White in the cooling sea gale!

30th June 2008
Martyn Priestly tells us that the area he watches in Bradford is called Raw Nook and it has just been granted the status of a local Nature Reserve. Martyn is the warden/recorder for the site. Today he saw Common Blue 7, Ringlet 6, Meadow Brown 8, Speckled Wood 4, and a Large Skipper. Tim Nelson went to Fen Bog today where, despite overcast and breezy conditions, he managed to find two Large Heath. Jon Harvey reports that on Saturday 28th, on a walk along the floodbank at Paull Holme Strays he spotted 10 Meadow Browns, which were just managing to avoid getting blown away by the strong winds. On the 29th June at North Cave wetlands he spotted 5 Ringlets (his first this year), 4 Meadow Browns and 1 Small Skipper, also his very observant 6 year old spotted a Cinnabar moth. David Baker has been trapping at Elvington where the catch included Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing, both sexes of Ghost Moth in the same trap (image of male), Oblique Carpet and Coxcomb Prominent. Micros included Aleimma loeflingiana. Ange Garrod in Sheffield has captured Clepsis consilimana, Freyer's Pug, Marbled Minor agg., White-spotted Pug and Dipleurina lacustrata. Lee and Jax Westmoreland went for a walk in Deepdale (Dalby Forest) today where they saw Small Copper, Large and Small Skipper, Ringlet, Meadow Brown, Common Blue and Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary.

29th June 2008
Lee and Jax Westmoreland in Scarborough captured Common Wainscot, Codling Moth and the Miller overnight. David Baker tells us that there were not as may moths in his Tadcaster trap this morning, but two newcomers for the year worth were Riband Wave (non-banded) and a Leopard Moth clinging to a garden seat cover. Whilst moving it the moth curled its body and seemed to feign death. However, it had relaxed twenty minutes later and David managed a shot, although it is a very worn specimen. Peter Swallow reports that in a brief sunny period this morning, he spotted his first Ringlet of the year at Lowthorpe Church and a second near Ruston Parva. Peter says that butterflies have been very scarce in the area this Spring. Paul Brothers and Karon Sharp say that they only saw 3 Meadow Browns today at Golden Acre Park.

28th June 2008
David Baker is back in business again in Tadcaster with quite a good catch of 52 specimens encompassing 25 species, with new for year species Common Emerald, Dark Arches, Snout, Plutella xylostella (Diamond-back), Pyrausta aurata, Common Footman, Ditula angustiorana and Eudonia mercurella an the return of Cydia pomonella. Paul Brothers and Karon Sharp went to Fairburn today and saw 1 Red Admiral, 1 Large Skipper and 1 Ringlet. and around 80 Nettle-taps. Nick Goulthorpe put the moth trap out last night and had caught a Small Elephant Hawk-moth, an Elephant Hawk-moth, a Burnished Brass, a Poplar Hawk moth, and a Barred Yellow. Paul says that is a vast improvement on previous weeks, when they have been lucky to get just a couple of species. New in the Scarborough moth trap for Lee and Jax Westmoreland were Small Angle Shades, Brown China-mark and Dioryctria abietella.

26th June 2008
Damian Money captured this Garden Tiger in his Skelton garden. David Baker found a Hofmannophila pseudospretella (Brown House-moth) on his Tadcaster bedroom curtains this morning. Michael Flowers spotted this moth which appeared to have been struck by a vehicle and wonders if anyone can identify it. Paul Brothers and Karon Sharp went to Bempton Cliffs today and saw a couple of Green-veined Whites, Silver-ground Carpets and a single Chimney Sweeper moth. Paul says it's not a good set of records for the time of year. Ange Garrod has been busy over in Sheffield capturing Broad-barred White, Large Yellow Underwing, Grey Pug and Straw Dot in her garden moth trap. Steve Graham tells us that the butterfly recording and moth trapping in his corner of VC63 has been rather slow so far this year. However, he visited Thorne Moors on the 24th and briefly called in at Bulcliffe Colliery site, West Bretton near Huddersfield where he saw his first Meadow Brown of the year. Steve says that Thorne Moors was excellent despite a slight breeze, he followed the yellow trail and recorded Large Heath - 57 (probably 100-200 on the wing if the whole site was fully surveyed), Meadow Brown - 4, Speckled Wood - 6, Large Skipper - 15, and Green-veined White - 1. There were 2 fresh Wall on Shelley Bridle in early June which was encouraging as there were no local sightings last year. Steve's highlight of the year so far was finding a Dingy Skipper on the TPT for the first time, again in very blustery conditions back in early June and says he's sure there would have been several more but they were keeping out of the wind. Steve photographed a mating pair of Privet Hawkmoths found at Noar HIll NNR in Hampshire whilst visiting his in-laws in May. New in the Scarborough moth trap for Lee and Jax Westmoreland were Phlyctaenia coronata, Small Blood-vein (first for garden), Udea olivalis, Small Dotted Buff (first for garden) and Snout.

25th June 2008
Ange Garrod recorded this Speckled Wood in her Sheffield garden. She has also been busy with the moth trap recording Grey Pine Carpet, Barred Fruit-tree Tortrix, Dipleurina lacustrata and Teleiodes vulgella all new for the garden. Ange tells us that several moths landed on the north-east facing wall of the house during daylight hours. Dave O'Brien was working over the border in Greystones Community Woodland where he saw 9 Speckled Wood, 15 Ringlet, 2 Common Blue, and 1 Large Skipper, as well as a Drinker caterpillar. Michael Flowers reports that there were at least 3 Latticed Heath at Beacon Ponds (nr Spurn) today. Also present were Cinnabar, Silver Y, Yellow-tail larva his first Meadow Brown of the year, plus 5 Speckled Wood. New in the Scarborough moth trap for Lee and Jax Westmoreland were Light Emerald, Purple Clay, Burnished Brass and Mottled Beauty.

23rd June 2008
John Ash Wilkinson was at Anston Stones on the 22nd where he recorded 3 Ringlets (joint first sighting of 2008), 1 Marbled White (first sighting of 2008), 15 Meadow Browns, a few Large Whites,a Speckled Wood and a Yellow Shell. Ian Marshall in Flamborough also spotted a Ringlet on the 22nd and Lenora Bruce in the same location on the same day recorded the first sighting of a Small Skipper. Damian Money captured a Pale Prominent in Skelton on the 21st. David Baker in Tadcaster captured 0724 Metzneria lapella and 1024 Cnephasia incertana also on the 21st, an early birthday present for David who celebrates his seventieth birthday today - many happy returns to you. Ange Garrod in Sheffield recorded Nemophora degeerella on the 21st - a new species for her garden. Derek Parkinson recorded a Currant Clearwing in his Baildon garden yesterday. New in the Scarborough moth trap for Lee and Jax Westmoreland on the night of the 21st were Lime Hawk-moth, Elephant Hawk-moth, Mottled Beauty and Barred Red. There was also a Scalloped Hazel which looked remarkably like it had been crossed with a Common Marbled Carpet! Sally Whale spotted this Common Marbled Carpet flying into a Cherry tree in her Headingley garden today where she also saw a few Speckled Woods and a Small White.

21st June 2008
Oh no! They've made it to Scarborough! A Large Yellow Underwing was present in the moth trap for Lee and Jax Westmoreland this morning. Also in the trap, new for year were Green Pug and Flame and a very flighty Willow Beauty. Damian Money tells us that it is still fairly quiet in his Skelton garden at the moment, he did see a Speckled Wood yesterday. There was also a Dingy Shell near Upleatham. David Baker reports from Elvington where he captured Anthophila fabriciana along with the common, but not always appreciated Celypha lacunana of which he says that the close-up patterning is more intricate than it seems just using ones eyes.

20th June 2008
David Baker has been trapping at the reserve at Elvington where he captured 27 species including Green Oak Tortrix (Tortrix virdana), Drinker, Nemophora degeerella, Elachista argentella, Light Emerald, Clouded Border, Lime Speck Pug and Dusky Brocade. Ange Garrod in Sheffield has been busy moth trapping capturing Brimstone Moth and Cherry-bark Moth. New in the Scarborough moth trap for Lee and Jax Westmoreland this morning were Small Fan-foot, Small Phoenix and Green Silver-lines. An earlier visit to the castle hill resulted in the sighting of two Speckled Wood only. Paul Brothers and Karon Sharp were on Ellerburn Bank today where sightings included Meadow Brown, Small Heath, Dingy Skipper, Common Blue along with Small, Large and Green-veined Whites. An afternoon visit to Fen Bog gave sightings of Dingy Skipper, Common Blue and Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary with Small Copper, Small Heath and Common Blue.

18th June 2008
Ange Garrod in Sheffield has been busy moth trapping capturing Figure of Eighty, Freyer's Pug and a possible (gender determination needed) Nemapogon ruricolella. David Baker had his first Large Yellow Horrible (sorry - Large Yellow Underwing), along with Bee moth and Udea olivalis in his Tadcaster moth trap. David also captured his first Straw Dot for the garden. Chris Toop spotted his and our first Meadow Brown at Sykehouse in VC63 on the 16th. Chris tells us that we should keep an eye out for Small Skipper which is on the wing just over the border in Nottinghamshire at Misson Carr SSSI, not too far from Doncaster.

17th June 2008
Damian Money tells us that despite the cooler weather in Skelton he has had a few firsts for the year recently in the garden including Freyers and Currant Pugs, Cinnabar, Buff-tip and Spectacle. David Baker reports that while it may be flaming June, there aren't many moths. He captured 4 macromoths last night in Tadcaster along with 3 micromoths including this Brown House-moth (Hofmannophila pseudospretella) and says that no-one seems to bother with these common little house moths, but they are rather pretty. David had a good day out at the YNU VC64 meeting at Ellington Banks on Saturday along with Charlie Fletcher and Jill Warwick and others. There was a good turnout, with plenty of moths from overnight trapping. Firstly a common moth, the Marbled Minor, possibly even Tawny, but now classed as Marbled Minor agg. There seem to have been a large number of Green Carpets about this year. Another smart macro, is the Small Angle Shades. Two micros to finish, 0263 Lyonetia clerkella, given the vernacular name of Apple Leaf Miner, and David's favourite micro, (apart from spelling it!), 0925 Phtheochroa rugosana.Winston Plowes in Hebden Bridge had his first migrant of the year last night in the form of a Silver Y.

16th June 2008
Paul and Andrew Kipling spotted their (and our) first Large Heath at Fen Bog yesterday. They also saw Dingy Skipper and Small pearl-bordered Fritillary. Ange Garrod captured this Ingrailed Clay in her Sheffield moth trap. Paul Brothers and Karon Sharp have been out and about at the weekend, they tell us that Friday was a total loss because apart from a couple of Green-veined White seen whilst driving, they did not see any other butterfly activity along the River Wharfe from Barden Towers towards Burnsall. Paul saw a single Speckled Wood in his Cross Gates garden on Saturday morning and the pair saw around 10 Large Skippers feeding at Fairburn Ings, along with 5 Common Blues and 4 Green-veined Whites. The only other thing of interest was a lone Cinnabar moth. Returning to Fairburn Ings at dusk to see what could be found, they only found a couple of Garden Carpets and a possible Silver-ground Carpet. Paul says that the bat activity probably kept the moths at bay, or else they had eaten most of them by the time they arrived. On Sunday, it wasn't any better as they only saw a couple of Green-veined Whites at Golden Acre Park, along with 5 Nemophora degeerella.

14th June 2008
Tom Hubball reports 2 Small Copper, 2 Silver-ground Carpet, 1 Mother Shipton and 1 Angle Shades plus 1 Green Hairstreak, 1 Wall, 2 Small White, 1 Green-veined White, 1 Large Skipper and 5 Nettle-tap moths Anthophila fabriciana from Timble Ings (VC64) today. Winston Plowes in Hebden Bridge has captured several species new for year including Small Angle Shades, Shoulder-striped Wainscot and Coxcomb Prominent along with Clouded Silver, Pale Tussock, Figure of Eighty, Broken-barred Carpet and Magpie - all new for the location. On the 10th June, Winston went to Thrislington NR where he saw Northern Brown Argus, Common Blue, Latticed Heath, Yellow Shell and Sandy Carpet and says that these beautiful meadows are well worth a visit. David Baker confirmed that the mystery moth at Elvington was a Dusky Brocade. In Tadcaster this morning he managed to get a good image of a Willow Beauty. David also had a walk around Strensall before lunch and managed to catch Marbled White Spot and transfer it onto a tree trunk to photograph.

13th June 2008
Ange Garrod in Sheffield has had a busy few days capturing Lozotaenia forsterana, Elachista argentella, both new for the garden, along with Scalloped Hazel and a pair of Anthophila fabriciana doing what comes naturally. Tom Hubball spotted a Large Skipper at Timble Ings on the 11th, at 8.30pm at rest. David Baker tells us that on a wet morning (Thurs 12th), he didn’t expect much, but captured his first Green Pug at home in Tadcaster. David went on to Elvington Air Museum where he had two traps running overnight. he tells us that the vegetation was wet through but that he still had over 100 specimens to deal with. Straw Dots and Middle-barred Minors in abundance, an Eyed Hawk-moth. David says that he agitated it slightly to try to get a shot of the “eyes” on hind wings, however, they had both been removed by a predator, presumably a bird or birds and it goes to show how the body had been protected by this mimicry. Job done! David almost missed this Peppered Moth, 6 inches from the floor on the Oak tree near to the trap, and says that even on the greenish bark the moth's camouflage is good. The Setaceous Hebrew Character was the “freshest” he has seen in 10 years trapping and again shows how cryptic the colouring can be. New in the Scarborough moth trap overnigh were May Highflyer, Dusky Brocade and Ingrailed Clay. Michael Flowers spotted this Drinker Larva at Spurn on the 12th.

11th June 2008
Derek Parkinson visited Otley Chevin on Sunday 8th June with his daughters and Helena (the eldest) alerted him to the presence of a Wood Tiger. Derek also saw Orthotaenia undulana on the bilberry and lots of Cocksfoot Moths (Glyphipterix simpliciella) on the buttercups. Ange Garrod in Sheffield has captured Buff Ermine and Lesser Treble-bar, two species new for her garden. In Scarborough for Lee and Jax Westmoreland the surprises in the trap this morning were Scorched Wing and Eyed Hawk-moth.

10th June 2008
Lee and Jax Westmoreland captured several new species in their Scarborough moth trap overnight including Dot Moth, Timothy Tortrix, Pebble Prominent and Coxcomb Prominent. Martin Wainwright has captured a long awaited Elephant Hawk-moth in his Leeds garden moth trap and he asks If anyone has good ideas for keeping birds away from the trap in the morning (after inspection), saying that the best he can manage at the moment is to creep around the garden trying to find places to tap out the moths without the birds seeing! Anyone with ideas please email the webmistress (who has had trouble with birds actually getting into the trap to say nothing of nosy Fox cubs dislodging the lamp!). Damian Money has been busy (and brave) in Skelton he managed to go out on National Moth Night with just himself and a Barn Owl for company! Damian took an Actinic bulb and sheet in to the orchard at work and managed a few new moths for the site as this is the first time it has been trapped. In his garden he captured Pebble Prominent and Oak Hook-tip. Mike Pearson tells us that Rich Baines in Flamborough captured a Flame Wainscot - a first for Yorkshire. Christine Frost in Withernsea captured Platyptilia gonodactyla last night as well as a very dark Scalloped Hazel. Michael Flowers reports Large Skipper and Drab Looper at Howden Marsh today. David Baker tells us that he captured 24 species last night, including 16 macro and 8 micromoths. The best being his first ever dark form of Scalloped Hazel. David also had his first Willow Beauty of the year and Bryotropha affinis. Sally Whale reports Speckled Wood and Pyrausta Aurata in her Headingley garden today; She saw a Small Tortoiseshell and various distant Whites on the Chevin yesterday.

9th June 2008
Tom Hubball was out and about yesterday, at Shipley Station Meadow he saw - 3 Common Blue, at Toad Holes Beck, Bradford - 2 Large Skipper and a Silver Y and at BEES Urban Nature Reserve, Bradford - a Speckled Wood. Sylvia Brennan reports White Ermine and Speckled Wood in her garden in Hartburn, Stockton on Tees today. It is the first Speckled Wood seen there. Later in the day at Dormans Pool, Seal Sands she saw a Northern Brown Argus, lots of Common Blues and Walls, Large and Small Whites and what she thought was a Brimstone in flight but was unable to locate it. There was also a Silver Y present. Arnold Robson took a walk along the lane bordering the Bolton Lake YWT reserve this morning where he counted 19 Speckled Woods, a Wall and a Common Blue. This afternoon he went to Whitcliffe Scar where there were several fresh Small Heaths, a Small Copper and 2 Walls. Jesika and Jim Bone report that yesterday at Wheatlands, they saw theit first Large Skippers (6). Today there was one in the allotments. Jesika tells us that even Speckled Woods seem rare, but she did see a Holly Blue today. Two of the Large Whites which overwintered as pupae have emerged. In Hebden Bridge Winston Plowes has captured his first True Lover's Knot and Magpie. In Sheffield, Ange Garrod has captured her first Nemapogon cloacella, Small Clouded Brindle, Clouded-bordered Brindle, Small Fan-foot, Marbled Minor agg and Pammene germmana. New in the Scarborough moth trap for Lee and Jax Westmoreland overnight were Broken-barred Carpet, Peach Blossom, Small Magpie, Clouded Silver and Caloptilia syringella. Lee reports a Red Admiral on the castle hill in Scarborough. Paul Brothers and Karon Sharp tell us that this morning they saw a Brimstone moth in their Leeds back garden and a couple of Speckled Woods all before 10am. The pair went to Golden Acre Park later where they saw a couple of Green-veined Whites, a Peacock and their first Red Admiral of the year. At to Otley Chevin they found a single Green Hairstreak even under the perfect conditions, proving that they are at the end of their flight season, a couple of Green-veined Whites were also present. A Wood Tiger (their first ever) was also seen. Paul tells us that there was a distinct lack of flowers on the big field which probably accounts for the low butterfly count. On National Moth Night David Baker and John Bowers took 4 traps to a site at Aberford within an orchard area.They caught 38 species, 27 macro and 11 micromoths. The catch included Miller, Grey Dagger and PaleTussock along with Enarmonia formosana and Eurrhypara hortulata. This morning David's catch included Epinotia bilunana and Agapeta hamana.

8th June 2008
The weather was kind to us on National Moth Day and Night with several people reporting new for year sightings including Derek Parkinson who tells us that this Pyrausta aurata was flying around the marjoram in his Baildon garden during the day. The Poplar Hawk-moth was his first of the year as was this Plutella porrectella. Paz Fletcher tells us that the family were out on the cliffs at Filey yesterday, where they saw lots of Silver Y, Wall, Small Copper, a single Peacock and Large White, along with five Small Heath. Paz was also trapping on National Moth Night where the best of his catch was a Cream-bordered Green Pea. In Scarborough the moth trap held three new species for the year, Angle Shades, Bee Moth and White Ermine for Lee and Jax Westmoreland. A walk in Deepdale later gave sightings of Red Admiral and Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary and Dingy Skipper while Pexton and Ellerburn were also hosts to Dingy Skipper, along with Small Heath and Common Blue. At Fairburn Paul Brothers and Karon Sharp spotted a Nemophora degeerella and at Brockadale on the 6th an Orange-tip. Winston Plowes in Hebden Bridge reports Clouded Border and Peppered Moth as new for the year. Michael Flowers tells us that Chris Cox took this picture of a Puss Moth at Wetwang yesterday. David Baker was at At Yorkshire Air Museum on Thursday for “Flightpath”, where 20 parties of schoolchildren attended. He had three parties of 15 children in 40 minute sessions. With 20 live specimens caught the night before, posters and drawing equipment,. David tells us that the children were so well behaved, interested and inquisitive that he had a really enjoyable day with them. The best of the catch included Eyed Hawk-moth, Poplar Hawk-moth, Iron Prominent, Green Silver-lines, Gold Spot, Beautiful Golden Y, Middle-barred Minor, Green Carpet and Peppered Moth and on the 5th June Peach Blossom, Sandy Carpet, Scorched Wing, Lesser and Swallow Prominents, Elephant and Lime Hawk-moths, Clepsis spectrana and Eucosma cana.

7th June 2008
Richard Bennett went went to Nosterfield LNR yesterday where he saw 1 Orange-tip, 7 Common Blue (with second photo) 1 Peacock, 1 Wall and several Large White. Richard also found several of these caterpillars feeding on birds foot trefoil. A visit to Thrislington NR in County Durham on the 5th produced a first sighting of a Northern Brown Argus for Richard. New in the Scarborough moth trap for Lee and Jax Westmoreland overnight was this Bordered White. The pair are hoping for a bumper catch tonight as it's National Moth Night. A walk along the sea cut in Scarborough brought a few more moth sightings for the day including their first Straw Dot of the year, Brown Silver-lines, Silver Y, Timothy Tortrix and Diamond Back. Butterflies seen included Small and Green-veined White, Orange-tip and Large Skipper. Barry Dalton tells us that on a visit to Thornton le Dale on the 1st June he saw a Brimstone, At home in Norton (VC63) he has found Lime Speck Pug several Grey Pugs, White Ermine and Common Swift. Terry Rowe had a walk to Lady Spring Wood, Malton, where he saw 5 Common Blue, 1 Small Copper, and 8 Green-veined White. New in the Sheffield moth trap for Ange Garrod overnight were Bee Moth and Snout. Paz, Beth and Meredith Fletcher were out and about south of Levisham today and were lucky enough to see two Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary basking as they warmed up and nectaring on ground ivy. They also had sight of a Chimney Sweeper nearby but despite the appearance of the sun the only other species they positively identified was Green-veined White. New for the year in the Hebden Bridge moth trap for Winston Plowes were Ghost Moth, Cinnabar, Lime Hawk-moth, Common Marbled Carpet, Green Arches and new for both garden and year Elephant Hawk-moth (with second photo). Paul Brothers and Karon Sharp were at Fairburn Ings today where their only sighting was a Green-veined White.

6th June 2008
New in the Scarborough moth trap for Lee and Jax Westmoreland was this Pale Tussock (with second photo) along with the darker form of Common Marbled Carpet. Damian Money captured this Iron Prominent in Skelton along with Sallow Kitten,Gold Spot and Ash bud Moth which was new for the garden. Terry Rowe had a walk near Castle Howard yesterday where he saw Small and Green-veined Whites and Orange-tip. In Norton he spotted a Comma. Ange Garrod has been busy in Sheffield where her catch has included Ingrailed Clay (very lively), Small Magpie, Bright-line Brown-eye, Freyer's Pug, Epiblema rosaecolana and Dipleurina lacustrata all new for the garden. Paul Brothers and Karon Sharp went to Brockadale today where they saw around 10 Common Blues, 2 male Brimstones, a Green-veined White, a Large Skipper and a couple of Yellow Shells. Although warm, the sun faded pretty quickly ending any possibility of seeing more butterflies. They returned home via South Milford, where the only sightings were a lone Common Blue and 3 Cinnabar moths.

5th June 2008
John Brookes reports the first sighting of a Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary at Raygate Slack (VC62) where he also saw Orange-tip and Peacock. At Pexton Bank he saw Brown Silver Line and at Ellerburn Bank, Small Heath, Common Blue, Dingy Skipper, Silver Y and Green-veined White. Ange Garrod has captured Epiblema cynosbatella, Tinea trinotella, and Brimstone all new for her Sheffield garden. Martin Wainwright in Rawdon has been experimenting with unusual photographic angles such as this one for a Poplar Hawk-moth which he suggests could be used as a "draw the face on the alien" competition! Martin also captured a Herald and a Lesser Swallow Prominent. Lee and Jax Westmoreland ran their Scarborough moth trap overnight and had a bumper catch of species new for the year including Epiblema cynosbatella, Lesser Swallow Prominent, Common White Wave, Common Swift, Marbled Minor agg., Beautiful Golden Y and Dagger agg. The catch saw the return of Brimstone moth and Poplar Hawk-moth and continuing the unusual angle theme - a Common Marbled Carpet - just look at those eyes!

4th June 2008
Lee Westmoreland spotted his first Painted Lady and Large Skipper of the year on the castle hill in Scarborough today. Michael Flowers was along the Hudson Way today where he saw this Common Blues, a Holly Blue, a Large White, 3 Green-veined White, a Comma, and a Speckled Wood which chased off an Orange-Tip twice! There were at least 2 Cinnabar moths and a Silver-ground Carpet. Winston Plowes in Hebden Bridge has been recording new for year species in his moth trap including White Ermine, Ruby Tiger, Grey Birch, Silver-ground Carpet and Peppered Moth. On a walk around York cemetery on Monday he spotted Elachista argentella. Damian Money tells us that the mothing is improving in Skelton where he has caught several species new to the garden including 141 Nematopogon schwarziellus, 0332a Firethorn Leaf Miner, 1904 Scorched Wing, and 1918 Lunar Thorn.

3rd June 2008
Robin Adderley spotted this pair of Lime Hawk-moths in Harrogate on the 1st June. Martin Wainwright in Rawdon, Leeds has been keeping watch on butterflies in the area recording Orange-tip frpm the 5th May, Speckled Wood from the 6th, Holly Blue from the 19th and Brimstone from the 31st. Martin tells us that the Brimstone is only in its second or possibly third year and that Speckled Wood is doing really well, with more and more sightings each year. In his garden moth trap he captured this Spectacle. David Baker in Tadcaster reports a Garden Pebble (which unfortuately flew before sitting for a portrait) along with two micromoths queuing in numerical order – 0409a Argyresthai trifasciata and 0409b Argyresthia cupressella. Winston Plowes in Hebden bridge captured this Common Carpet. Michael Flowers tells us that there are now a lot of Garden Tiger Moth larvae out at Spurn (VC61) along with the Brown-Tails. Michael also saw a Red Admiral at Kilnsea.

1st June 2008
Paul Brothers and Julian Matthews were at Fairburn Ings on the 31st where they saw Large Skipper, Common Blue, Orange-tip, Small Copper, Small White, Peacock and Small Tortoiseshell along with Burnet Companion, Nettle-tap (Anthophila fabriciana) , Silver-ground Carpet and Yellow Shell. A Yellow-tail larva was also seen. Peter Lees saw a male and female Orange-tip alongside a footpath near Irton village on the 31st. Ange Garrod has been busy in Sheffield capturing Angle Shades (newly emerged), Turnip Moth, Pale Tussock, Shuttle-shaped Dart and a pair of mating Esperia sulphurella. Her garden has been home to Comma, Large White Orange-tip and Speckled Wood. New in the Scarborough moth trap for Lee and Jax Westmoreland this morning was a Common Lutestring. David Baker in Tadcaster has captured several species new for the year overnight including Lime Hawk-moth, Green Carpet, Turnip Moth and Common Swift.