Moth Night: what and when it is, how to take part, and which species to target
Celebrate moths and submit your sightings in this annual recording event. This year's theme focusses on the four red underwing moth species.

What is Moth Night?
Moth Night is an annual celebration of moth recording in Britain and Ireland. There is a different theme and date each year.
This recording event is organised by Atropos, Butterfly Conservation and the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology.
Normally there would be public events taking place, but due to the coronavirus pandemic, there will be no events during 2020.
There are several prizes available to those taking part, more information is available on the Moth Night website:
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- Best record of a migrant moth species
- Best record of a resident moth species
- Random draw for 10 participants who submit data
- Most interesting record of a red underwing species
Learn more about moths:
- Wildlife Q&A: Why are moths attracted to artificial light?
- Wildlife Q&A: How can plume moths fly on such narrow wings?
- News (2020): Moths and butterflies shift their symmetry to improve camouflage
- News (2019): Moths have a bad reputation despite ecological importance
Learn more about butterflies:
- Wildlife Q&A: How can butterflies and moths smell?
- Big Butterfly Count: How to take part and species to spot
- News (2020): Large blue butterfly returns to Gloucestershire site after 150 years
This year’s date and theme
This year, Moth Night runs between 27 and 29 August 2020, and focusses on the four red underwings. The Moth Night website also shares which other common moth species may be seen during the event.
The What’s Flying Tonight app by CEH is another useful tool, which uses the date and your location to show which species may be flying.
Red underwing (Catocala nupta)

- Resident species
- Widespread in England, localised in Wales, spreading northwards into Scotland
Previous themes of Moth Night have included:
- Clifden nonpareil moth
- Pyralid moths
- Moths on flowering ivy
How to attract moths
Across the UK moth-traps and bedding plants will be deployed by thousands of people keen to see the amazing variety of moths that visit our shores or live year-round in our gardens and countryside.
Most moths have a well-known attraction to light, but some with more colourful tastes, can be lured in for a closer look with ropes soaked in alcohol, and the heady scent of the tobacco plant, Nicotiana.
Learn more about attracting pollinators to your garden:
- How to make moth wine ropes
- How to make a butterfly feeder
- How to make a bee hotel
- Best plants to grow for pollinators
How to submit your Moth Night sightings
Although there is a theme for Moth Night, all records of moths are welcome to be submitted for the event via the Moth Night website.