Silver Y
It is named for a silvery mark shaped like the Greek letter gamma on each forewing, and unlike most moths it happily feeds at flowers in broad daylight.
| Where | Farmland, gardens, grassland, coastal areas |
|---|---|
| Size | 30 to 45 mm wingspan |
| When | May to October |
It is a medium-sized grey-brown moth with mottled forewings and a bright silver Y or gamma-shaped mark near the centre of each one.
It is a strong migrant, moving north through Europe from spring onward and sometimes appearing in huge numbers, especially at coastal sites.
Traits
Habitat
Farmland
Colour
Grey, Brown
Active
Day and night
To people
Harmless
Activity through the year
Often confused with
The beautiful golden Y has a more broken, two-part gold mark rather than the Silver Y's single solid silver gamma shape.
Questions
Is the Silver Y dangerous to people?
The Silver Y is harmless to people.
When can you see the Silver Y?
The Silver Y can be seen from May to October, by day and at night.
Plate retouched from a photo by Donald Hobern from Copenhagen, Denmark, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons Licence
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Butterflies and moths›Owlet moths›Autographa
Last updated 2026-09-26. Every entry is checked against published sources.