Argent & Sable Rheumaptera hastata

Late May through June, damp moorland and bogs.

This distinctive moth is a western species in Scotland, matching the distribution of its main foodplant here, bog-myrtle.

Unlike most carpet moths it is purely diurnal, usually seen when flying in sunshine. The starkness of its black and white pattern suggests warning coloration rather than camouflage.

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Foxglove Pug Eupithecia pulchellata

June into July.

Woodland rides and clearings, anywhere the foodplant is present, including gardens.

Pug moths are notoriously difficult to identify, but its strong pattern makes this one of the easier species.

Foxglove is its only foodplant, but even then the caterpillar is choosy, feeding mainly on the stamens inside the flowers.

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Mother Shipton Callistege mi

Late May through June, on open, flower-rich grassland, sand-dunes.

A widespread but very local species in our area, this day-flying noctuid is a sign of good habitat.

It is active in sunshine, flying close to the turf, but can easily be mistaken for a skipper butterfly.

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Magpie Moth Abraxas grossulariata

Most habitats including urban areas.

Caterpillar full-grown in June.

At one time, caterpillars of the Magpie Moth were a familiar site, often reaching pest proportions on garden currants and Euonymus hedges. In recent years there has been a major decline and over most of Britain this is now a scarce species - except in north and west Scotland, where huge population explosions sometimes occur on heather moorland.

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Beautiful Golden Y Autographa pulchrina

June and July, most habitats including woodland, gardens, farmland.

More richly coloured than its migratory relative the Silver Y, this resident plusia is particularly common in Scotland. It can use a very wide range of foodplants as diverse as nettle, cow parsley and garden strawberry.

The tufts of thoracic and abdominal hair help the moth's resemblance to a curled dead leaf when at rest by day.

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