Lunar Yellow Underwing - a surprise moth in Bedfordshire

An excellent find by Robin & Fiona Wynde on Friday morning in their Potton moth trap was this Lunar Yellow Underwing, Noctua orbona. There have been reports of this in the county in the past but none of the historic records have a supporting voucher specimen so they are in doubt due to the confusion with other Yellow Underwing species. In the photos below the black sub-apical mark on the upper wing and the black crescent on the hindwing are the diagnostic features that separate this species from Large & Lesser Yellow Underwing.

Photos by Melissa Banthorpe