Moths of invention: seven species you don’t often see in Scotland

For the first time since 1946 – and for the first time ever in Scotland – one of these little blighters, the Conformist moth, has been found. It was enticed into a light trap at the Insh Marshes RSPB nature reserve near Kingussie.

There are thousands of moth species and subspecies, many with wonderful and curious names. As well as the Conformist moth there is (inevitably) the Nonconformist moth, the Anomalous moth, the Confused moth and the Herald moth – the latter being a rare creature named after a similarly declining-in-circulation newspaper. And then there are these… Scottish Lib Dem Constituency moth tavishia zetlandic liam orcadus Currently confined to the Northern Isles after being almost wiped out following a disastrous crossbreeding programme with the New Conservative moth (bullingdonia etonus). Large numbers have also been devoured by the Orange-Book clegg (smarmosa westminsteria), a voracious predatory insect known to favour nesting in beards and sandals. Independence Referendum moth calmanici westlothiaquesta Although last spotted in 1979, there are persistent and increasing rumours that a huge swarm (or flock, or herd, or whatever the hell the collective noun is for moths) will be seen Scotland-wide in the spring of 2015. Expect a particular density in Banff and Buchan. The king moth is easily recognised due to being more bulbous than the standard drones, and sporting impressive eyebrow-type features. Closely related to the cybergnat. Goodwin’s moth bankus extrabonusa Famed for its elusive mating habits that can only be indirectly observed on the internet. Part of the subspecies superinjunctix flappus, along with the Giggs Gall and the Marrfly. Non-Old Firm League Win moth lennononono superalli squabblicus Last spotted in 1985 in the Pittodrie Marshes, and – briefly – in a decaying Tannadice jute mill. One of the rarest of all Scottish moths: whole centuries can pass without a single report. Previous brief sightings have come in Edinburgh, Dumbarton and Motherwell – while most poignant of all was the now-extinct subspecies, the red-and-white Third Lanark moth, southsidia bankruptus. Suffers great tribulation from the green-hooped wasp and the bluenosed hornet, which interbreed far more widely than is generally assumed. These have become resilient to all pesticides, without as yet having had any success in spreading south of the border. Gay Church of Scotland Minister moth stonewallix clergi onthemoundium Curiously, like the Non-Old Firm League Win moth, this was also last seen in Aberdeen. Considerable numbers of these moths are believed to exist behind closed doors, in closets and vestries. Rarely seen out in the fresh air and sunlight due to relentless attacks from the Fundie fly, and related to the likewise prevalent-but-persecuted Archdiocesean Rood-Screen moth, spiritus outragus. Buckfast Abbey moth devonia bevvius Foreign parasite that lays eggs in the heads of the young. Embra Tram moth cycletyri trappella Similar to a species that thrives in numerous mainland European cities, this much-rumoured but never seen moth has a hugely long, disruptive and expensive gestation period that sees the cocoon ultimately turn into a beautiful 22 bus route. One final thought. If dainty cakes with sticky-up wings of sponge were known not as butterfly cakes but as moth cakes, would people be so keen to eat them?

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