Noctuid Moths to be found in and around Torphins Wood, Scotland

Torphins is a village in upper Deeside, Aberdeenshire Scotland - see the map on the right. There is nothing particularly special about the wood, it is a mixed species coniferous/deciduous wood, so things found there can probably be found in many other Scottish, British or even European woods. For more information on Torphins itself and the human population there go to Torphins.org.

Grey dagger caterpillar, Acronicta psi caterpillar on blackcurrant leaf

Grey dagger, Acronicta psi

Common and found in a wide variety of habitats.

Caterpillar foodplants include birch, alder, hawthorn, blackthorn, plum, pear, apple, and many others. Caterpillar length up to 38 mm. Feeds Aug - Oct.

Adult flies June - Aug. Adult length at rest is 17 - 20 mm.

More on the grey dagger and similar moths.

Knot grass caterpillar, Acronicta rumicis

Acronicta rumicis, the Knot grass

Found in hedgerows, waste ground, meadows and gardens.

Caterpillar up to 38 mm. Foodplants include plantains, docks, bramble, thistles, hops, sallow and hawthorn.

Adults fly in May and August.

Cerapteryx graminis, the antler moth.

The caterpillars feed on grasses and rushes from Marh to June, and the adults fly in July and August, both day and night.

More about Cerapteryx graminis and simiar moths

Autographa gamma, Silver Y moth.

Adults are most common in the autumn, and fly both day and night.

Wingspan in 4 cm.

More about Autographa gamma and similar moths

Noctua pronuba, Large yellow underwing caterpillar, photograph of the 2 colour types

Noctua pronuba, the Large yellow underwing.

Caterpillars are found in the soil during the day from August to May, emerging at night to eat the leaves of low growing plants. Adults fly from June to October.

Caterpillars grow to 50 mm long.

Large yellow underwing

More about Noctua pronuba and similar caterpillars