Amphipyrinae / Psaphidinae / Heliothinae

Subfamily: Amphipyrinae (1G 3S)
This formerly large subfamily has been reduced to its type genus only.
They have a broad forewing and a habit of crawling away when disturbed.

Amphipyra (3S)
062 Amphipyra pyramidea
(Copper Underwing)

063 Amphipyra berbera
(Svensson's Copper Underwing)

064 Amphipyra tragopoginis
(Mouse Moth)

Subfamily: Psaphidinae (4G +1DB 4S +1DB)
These genera were previously included in subfamily Cuculliinae. 2 fly in the spring and 2 fly in the autumn and 1 is doubtfully British.
All have a black basal streak.

Asteroscopus
065 Asteroscopus sphinx (Sprawler)

Brachionycha
066 Brachionycha nubeculosa
(Rannoch Sprawler)

Meganephria
067 Meganephria bimaculosa
(Double-spot Brocade)

Doubtfully British. South/Central European species without migratory tendencies. Included on RES list on strength of 3 records (1815, 1892, 1949) all which were most likely accidental imports.

Allophyes
068 Allophyes oxyacanthae
(Green-brindled Crescent)

Xylocampa
069 Xylocampa areola (Early Grey)

Subfamily: Heliothinae (5G 8S)
Characterised by an orange or orange-brown forewing and a blackish border to the hindwing. Only one of these species has a widespread distribution in Britain, 2 are RDB residents, 2 are scarce but regular migrants, 2 are rare migrants and 1 is doubtfully British.

Pyrrhia
070 Pyrrhia umbra (Bordered Sallow)

Protoschinia
071 Protoschinia scutosa (Spotted Clover)

Rare migrant with 61 British records (to 2018), May-Sep, mostly Jun-Aug and mostly diurnal or at dusk.

Heliothis (4S)
072 Heliothis viriplaca (Marbled Clover)

073 Heliothis maritima
(Shoulder-striped Clover)

ssp: warneckei
fw: 13-15mm; Jun-Jul, diurnal; cross-leaved heath (Erica tetralix) and others; RDB on acid heath locally in Dorset, Hampshire, Surrey, Devon and Cornwall.
Ssp: bulgarica is a rare migrant with one British record, 1947 (it lacks the ‘diagnostic’ basal streak!)

074 Heliothis peltigera (Bordered Straw)

075 Heliothis nubigera
(Eastern Bordered Straw)

Helicoverpa
076 Helicoverpa armigera
(Scarce Bordered Straw)

Periphanes
077 Periphanes delphinii
(Pease Blossom)

Status uncertain (and therefore Doubtfully British in my opinion), not recorded in Britain since 1893. Some earlier records were clearly deliberate or accidental imports. It is unclear whether other records could indicate a now extinct locally breeding resident or a rare migrant or both.

Subfamily: Amphipyrinae (1G 3S)This formerly large subfamily has been reduced to its type genus only. ​They have a broad forewing and a habit of crawling away when disturbed.

Subfamily: Psaphidinae (4G +1DB 4S +1DB)These genera were previously included in subfamily Cuculliinae. 2 fly in the spring and 2 fly in the autumn and 1 is doubtfully British. All have a black basal streak.

Subfamily: Heliothinae (5G 8S)Characterised by an orange or orange-brown forewing and a blackish border to the hindwing. Only one of these species has a widespread distribution in Britain, 2 are RDB residents, 2 are scarce but regular migrants, 2 are rare migrants and 1 is doubtfully British.

Subfamily: Amphipyrinae (1G 3S)
This formerly large subfamily has been reduced to its type genus only.
They have a broad forewing and a habit of crawling away when disturbed.

Subfamily: Psaphidinae (4G +1DB 4S +1DB)
These genera were previously included in subfamily Cuculliinae. 2 fly in the spring and 2 fly in the autumn and 1 is doubtfully British.
All have a black basal streak.

Subfamily: Heliothinae (5G 8S)
Characterised by an orange or orange-brown forewing and a blackish border to the hindwing. Only one of these species has a widespread distribution in Britain, 2 are RDB residents, 2 are scarce but regular migrants, 2 are rare migrants and 1 is doubtfully British.