Listed below are some of the moth species likely to be found in Improved Grassland habitat within the Christchurch Harbour Recording Area.

Species that are nationally rare, or nationally scarce, have been further annotated as follows:

R* – nationally rare and breeds in the Harbour
R – nationally rare other
S* – nationally scarce and breeds in the Harbour
S – nationally scarce other

The website that is most relevant for Christchurch Harbour moth species is Hantsmoths. Clicking on the scientific name of a species will take you to the web page for that species on the Hantsmoths website.

For a full explanation of layout and terms click here.

Diurnal species readily identifiable as adults likely to be found in Improved Grassland habitat within Christchurch Harbour:

Nocturnal species readily identifiable as adults likely to be found in Improved Grassland habitat within Christchurch Harbour:

49.265    Eucosma cana    Hoary Tortrix
49.269    Eucosma campoliliana    Pied Tortrix
62.042    Myelois circumvoluta    Thistle Ermine
62.054    Homoeosoma sinuella    Twin-barred Knot-horn
62.058    Phycitodes binaevella    Spotted Knot-horn
62.077    Endotricha flammealis    Rosy Tabby
63.028    Ostrinia nubilalis    European Corn Borer
63.031    Udea ferrugalis    Rusty-dot Pearl
63.038    Patania ruralis    Mother of Pearl
63.048    Palpita vitrealis    Olive-tree Pearl
63.050    Dolicharthria punctalis    Long-legged Pearl    S*
63.052    Nomophila noctuella    Rush Veneer
63.054    Cydalima perspectalis    Box-tree Moth
63.069    Eudonia angustea    Narrow-winged Grey
63.080    Chrysoteuchia culmella    Garden Grass-veneer
63.089    Agriphila tristella    Common Grass-moth
63.093    Agriphila straminella    Straw Grass-moth
63.095    Agriphila geniculea    Chevron Grass-moth
66.010    Euthrix potatoria    Drinker
69.016    Deilephila elpenor    Elephant Hawk-moth
70.009    Idaea subsericeata    Satin Wave
70.013    Idaea biselata    Small Fan-footed Wave
70.017    Idaea degeneraria    Portland Ribbon Wave
70.061    Epirrhoe alternata    Common Carpet
70.141    Gymnoscelis rufifasciata    Double-striped Pug
70.173    Eupithecia centaureata    Lime-speck Pug
70.187    Eupithecia icterata    Tawny Speckled Pug
70.188    Eupithecia succenturiata    Bordered Pug
72.002    Rivula sericealis    Straw Dot
72.012    Euproctis chrysorrhoea    Brown-tail
72.019    Spilosoma luteum    Buff Ermine
72.020    Spilosoma lubricipeda    White Ermine
72.022    Diaphora mendica    Muslin Moth
72.024    Phragmatobia fuliginosa    Ruby Tiger
72.026    Arctia caja    Garden Tiger
72.027    Arctia villica britannica    Cream-spot Tiger
72.030    Euplagia quadripunctaria    Jersey Tiger
72.031    Tyria jacobaeae    Cinnabar
72.034    Utetheisa pulchella    Crimson Speckled
73.012    Diachrysia chrysitis    Burnished Brass
73.015    Autographa gamma    Silver Y
73.045    Acronicta rumicis    Knot Grass
73.058    Cucullia verbasci    Mullein
73.074    Heliothis peltigera    Bordered Straw
73.076    Helicoverpa armigera    Scarce Bordered Straw
73.092    Caradrina morpheus    Mottled Rustic
73.096    Hoplodrina octogenaria    Uncertain
73.097    Hoplodrina blanda    Rustic
73.099    Hoplodrina ambigua    Vine’s Rustic
73.101    Charanyca trigrammica    Treble Lines
73.102    Rusina ferruginea    Brown Rustic
73.109    Thalpophila matura    Straw Underwing
73.113    Phlogophora meticulosa    Angle Shades
73.120    Eremobia ochroleuca    Dusky Sallow
73.123    Hydraecia micacea    Rosy Rustic
73.131    Luperina testacea    Flounced Rustic
73.156    Apamea crenata    Clouded-bordered Brindle
73.158    Apamea sordens    Rustic Shoulder-knot
73.159    Apamea unanimis    Small Clouded Brindle
73.162    Apamea monoglypha    Dark Arches
73.171    Mesoligia literosa    Rosy Minor
73.186    Agrochola lychnidis    Beaded Chestnut
73.193    Omphaloscelis lunosa    Lunar Underwing
73.255    Anarta trifolii    Nutmeg
73.267    Lacanobia oleracea    Bright-line Brown-eye
73.270    Melanchra persicariae    Dot Moth
73.273    Hada plebeja    Shears
73.274    Mamestra brassicae    Cabbage Moth
73.279    Hecatera bicolorata    Broad-barred White
73.291    Mythimna pallens    Common Wainscot
73.293    Mythimna impura    Smoky Wainscot
73.295    Mythimna vitellina    Delicate
73.296    Pseudaletia unipuncta    White-speck
73.297    Mythimna albipuncta    White-point
73.298    Mythimna ferrago    Clay
73.307    Peridroma saucia    Pearly Underwing
73.317    Agrotis exclamationis    Heart and Dart
73.319    Agrotis segetum    Turnip Moth
73.320    Agrotis clavis    Heart and Club
73.325    Agrotis puta    Shuttle-shaped Dart
73.327    Agrotis ipsilon    Dark Sword-grass
73.328    Axylia putris    Flame
73.329    Ochropleura plecta    Flame Shoulder
73.334    Diarsia rubi    Small Square-spot
73.336    Cerastis rubricosa    Red Chestnut
73.342    Noctua pronuba    Large Yellow Underwing
73.343    Noctua fimbriata    Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing
73.345    Noctua comes    Lesser Yellow Underwing
73.346    Noctua interjecta caliginosa    Least Yellow Underwing
73.357    Xestia xanthographa    Square-spot Rustic
73.359    Xestia c-nigrum    Setaceous Hebrew Character
73.361    Xestia triangulum    Double Square-spot
74.002    Meganola albula    Kent Black Arches

Other notable species likely to be found in Improved Grassland habitat within Christchurch Harbour:

37.102    Coleophora argentula    Yarrow Case-bearer    [Larval case easy to find in autumn]
45.009    Gillmeria ochrodactyla    Tansy Plume    S*
49.039    Epiphyas postvittana    Light Brown Apple Moth
49.109    Agapeta hamana    Garden Straw
49.139    Cochylichroa atricapitana    Black-fronted Straw
49.325    Cydia ulicetana    Common Gorse Moth
62.059    Phycitodes saxicola    Lesser Clouded Knot-horn
73.128    Amphipoea oculea    Ear Moth
73.169    Mesapamea secalis    Common Rustic
73.173    Oligia strigilis    Marbled Minor
73.174    Oligia latruncula    Tawny Marbled Minor
73.175    Oligia versicolor    Rufous Minor
73.347    Noctua janthina    Langmaid’s Yellow Underwing    S*
73.348    Noctua janthe    Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing

For a complete list of moth species likely to be found in Improved Grassland habitat within Christchurch Harbour, look for code ‘IG’ in the Systematic List.

Go to CHOG Harbour Moths main page.