This is one moth that is easy to identify male from female as the female Vapourer is wingless and sedentary remaining on her cocoon. The male flies by day, in a fluttering flight,searching for the scent of a female, and is often mistaken for a Brown Hairstreak butterfly. It can be found July-Oct here in the South.
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Vapourer moth spotted in Nottingham area , is this a bit far north for this species?
Common and widespread throughout Britain. Common in Nottinghamshire and at Netherfield Lagoons.see Gedlington Conservation