Not directly Derbyshire Moth News but something VC57 Derbyshire moth recorders and verifiers should be aware of.
Steve Mathers has kindly allowed me to use his recent posts that have featured on Derbyshire Moths Facebook Group (DMFG) and on the Nottinghamshire Moths and Butterflies Facebook Group.
Steve wrote as follows – 23rd March 2026 – “A quite routine report of Orange Underwings in Notts seems to have turned out to be something else. Detailed examination and photographs of two recovered males, that were reported as Orange Underwing, have indicated bipectinate antennae and a hindwing underside pattern that supports the ID being Light Orange Underwing. A large colony of Light Orange Underwing is now suspected and this ID is supported by many leading recorders in the East Midlands. Final confirmation is sought from the Notts CR, with a specimen submitted for dissection.
Reported in Carr (1916) as a possible, but unconfirmed resident in Sherwood, there are no accepted Notts records to-date. The species occurs farther south in England and also locally in Lincs, a single record from VC55 (Leics and Rutland) lies on the border with Lincs. I attach a few images“. Steve Mathers.
For VC57 Derbyshire recorders and verifiers, we need to be aware of the possibility of Light Orange Underwing being discovered in VC57, especially from areas close to the Notts border. Keep an open mind when photographing an Orange Underwing and if confronted with one showing bipectinate antennae, remember to photograph the under hindwing, which is also an important identification feature. Tony Davison.
