Large moth

[Alastair Rae]

I found this rather battered chap fluttering in the middle of a main road in north London.
I was tending towards Willow Beauty but maybe he's too beefy? Measuring my hand, I'd say it's about 50 mm across the base. 35 mm FW?

[William]

Hi Alistair,

This is quite a notable creature (I'm very jealous!), it's a male Gypsy Moth...

http://ukmoths.org.uk/show.php?id=6312

It was formerly resident in the UK, but became extinct around 1900. Fortunately they seem to be making a comeback and quite a few have popped up in different places this year - worth informing your county recorder

BWs,

William

[Alastair Rae]

Thanks for that. I had considered Gypsy Moth because of people reporting them in traps recently but had dismissed it because I thought it was too rare!