I had a look in my field guide and it describes Pyrausta purpuralis as the "Common crimson and gold"

My field guide also depicts this species as being a slightly different shade of crimson than the photo but the markings seem to match up with your identification.

Compare and contrast with the similar Mint Moth, P. aurata: http://www.ispot.org.uk/node/3705

I compared both P. aurata and P. purpuralis on UKMoths.
It says 'On P. purpuralis the postmedian markings can form a continuous broad band, but it is usually broken into three substantial marks' which seemed to match this moth.

It also said' On P. aurata the only consistent postmedian mark is a round golden blotch near the costa, but there is usually a small golden mark between it and the costa.' and 'P. aurata is locally common in England, Wales and southern Scotland' Suggesting P. aurata in the North of Scotland was unlikely.

So i thought P. aurata unlikely do you think this was wrong?

I can't comment on the species, but on a general point it is *very* important that names are not allocated on probability except where the distribution of species is extremely well known.

In N Scotland generally (and in lots of other places) the distribution of invertebrates is very poorly known indeed, and in recent years we in HBRG have discovered many species thought not to occur anywhere near the Highlands, or to be extinct in Scotland. Some of these are in fact extremely common, at least locally, but have been overlooked. Insects don't read the same books as us, and so don't know where they are supposed to occur! ;-)

Murdo

I think your ID is correct Les, but I'm not an expert. The link to the Mint Moth was just for comparison, but note Martin Harvey's comment about not being able to see key features on the hind wings. Hopefully iSpot now has images of both of the easily confused Pyrausta species.

I'd echo JaseJ's comments - it looks very much as if it is P. purpuralis, but if I was recording it I'd want to check the hindwings to be 100% certain. Pyrausta ostrinalis is another possibility, which can be even more similar to purpuralis, and to check for that we'd need to see the underside of the wings.

This group of moths also goes under the English name of "Mint Moth", referring to one of their larval foodplants, but that name is for the group rather than one species.

I agree, I have been given the same advise by members of the HBDG www.hbrg.org.uk - the the choice is between P. purpuralis and P. ostrinalis although purpuralis is more likely. So I have the moth trap out now and will if one returns check/photograph the underside of the wings.