Moths

Up to the end of June 2005, a total of 790 species, comprising 367 micros and 425 macros, had been recorded in the Spurn area. Many of these are common widespread ones. However, quite a number do have a fairly restricted distribution in Britain, some because their larval food plant is confined to coastal habitats.

. These iclude such species as Bucculatrix maritima, Coleophora salicorniae, Gelechia hippophaella, Platytes alpinella, Gymnancyla canella, Agdistis bennetii, Scarce Pug Eupithecia extensaria, Sand Dart Agrotis ripae, Shore Wainscot Mythimna litoralis, Star-wort Cucullia asteris, Crescent Striped Apamea oblonga and Lyme Grass Chortodes elymi.

Other species are at or near the northern edge of their range in Britain and these include, Rosy Wave Scopula emutaria, Sharp-angled Peacock Macaria alternata, Dingy Footman Eilema griseola, Vine's Rustic Hoplodrina ambigua and Cream-bordered Green Pea Earias clorana. In addition, during the last three years, several species have apparently established breeding colonies here, most of which were formally regarded as scarce immigrants/vagrants to the Spurn area. These are Evergestis extimalis, Bedstraw Hawk-moth Hyles gallii, Brown-tail Euproctis chrysorrhoea (large numbers were caught in 2004 and subsequently many occupied larval webs found - only one moth was recorded in 2003), Kent Black Arches Meganola albula, White-point Mythimna albipuncta and Webb's Wainscot Archanara sparganii.

Being a coastal site, Spurn is also well placed to receive migrants and apart from the usual commoner species such as Dark Sword Grass Agrotis ipsilon, Silver Y Autographa gamma etc. which occur in varying numbers annually, quite a number of scarcer and rare ones have been recorded, including three which were new for Britain (Vitula edmandsii, The Maori Graphania dives and Eastern Nycteoline Nycteola asiatica).

Some of the rarer ones have been, Monopis monachella, Cydia amplana, Tawny Wave Scopula rubiginata, Striped Hawk-moth Hyles livornica, Scarce Black Arches Nola aerugula, Scarce Brindle Apamea lateritia and Golden Twin-spot Chrysodeixis chalcites.

Anyone wishing to run moth traps at Spurn, must first obtain permission from the owners of the reserve, The Yorkshire Wildlife Trust.