Old Lady Moth vs Silver Y
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Old Lady Moth | Silver Y |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Mormo maura | Autographa gamma |
| Order | Lepidoptera | Lepidoptera |
| Family | Noctuidae | Noctuidae |
| Size | 60-75 mm wingspan | 35-45 mm wingspan |
| Habitat | Rivers & Streams | Farmland |
| Diet | Omnivores | Nectar Feeders |
| Regions | Europe, western Asia | Europe, Asia, Africa |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Old Lady Moth
A large, sombre dark-brown moth whose wing pattern was thought to resemble a shawl worn by elderly women. It hides in dark places by day, including outbuildings and cellars.
Did You Know?
It is frequently found roosting in garden sheds and churches during the daytime in summer.
Silver Y
A migratory moth marked with a bright silvery Y or gamma symbol on each forewing. Billions migrate northward across Europe each spring in one of nature's great insect movements.
Did You Know?
Radar studies revealed that up to 250 million Silver Y moths cross into Britain in a single summer.