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Small Seraphim

Small Seraphim has a clear white cross-band a third of the way up from the outside edge of the forewing

Small Seraphim can usually be distinguished by the white toothed cross-line near the outer edge of the wing.
(Continuous and brighter than chevrons of Mottled  Grey)

Seraphim is not as strongly marked as Small Seraphim

Seraphim

It usually has more definite cross-bands than Mottled Grey

Early Tooth-striped often has a striking zig-zag mark in the centre of the forewing.

Unlike others in this group, an un-worn specimen has a row of double dots along the outside edge of the wing

Sharp-Angled Peacock is slightly the more common in the South but is very local elsewhere. Any seen in Scotland are likely to be Peacock.

4. Peacock and Sharp-Angled Peacock

Seraphim and Small Seraphim are similar to Mottled Grey and Early Tooth-Striped but are seen later  in the year - mainly in May, June and July.
 
They are also generally smaller - Seraphim about 14mm and Small Seraphim about 11mm.

3. Mottled Grey, Early Tooth-striped, Seraphim and Small Seraphim

Mottled Grey and Early Tooth-Striped are grey moths seen mainly in March and April

Other confusing geometers

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Some other common geometers which are easy to confuse

1. Maiden’s Blush, Blood-vein, Small Blood-vein, Clay Triple Lines

2. Treble Bar and Lesser Treble Bar

3. Mottled Grey, Early Tooth-striped, Seraphim, Small Seraphim

4. Peacock and Sharp-Angled Peacock           

Peacock Moth                                                                 Sharp angled Peacock

The curved mark at the edge of the forewing near the tip is thin and only slightly curved - so the tip of the wing appears rounder

The curved mark at the edge of the forewing near the tip is thick and dark and more curved - so the tip of the wing appears sharply angled.

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Treble Bar                                                                       Lesser Treble Bar

The cross-line near the base of the forewing curves gently round to the leading edge of the wing

The cross-line near the base of the forewing is pointed before it meets the leading edge of the wing

Blood-vein                                                                       Small Blood-vein

Main cross-line passes through the tip of the forewing.

Flight period May-September

Main cross-line curves round to meet leading edge of the forewing.

Cross-line near outer edge is continuous

Flight period May-August

Clay Triple lines                                     

Main cross-line curves round as in Small Blood-vein.

Main cross-line curves round as in Small Blood-vein and Clay Triple Lines.

The Clay Triple lines shown is of the first generation - flight period May-June. The later second generation is unlikely to be confused with Maiden’s Blush or Small Blood-Vein.

Check also Blair’s Mocha - mainly immigrant and only in Southern England (See Hantsmoths)

Tip of the forewing more hooked than in Small Blood-vein.

Cross-line near outer edge is continuous but has dots along it

Maiden’s Blush

The other two cross-lines are broken into dots

The forewing is unevenly flushed with pink

Some Maiden’s Blush moths have large blotches near the outer edge of the wing

1. Maiden’s Blush, Blood-vein, Small Blood-vein, Clay Triple Lines
Four large moths with similar wing shapes and similar cross-lines

2. Treble Bar and Lesser Treble Bar
Both species are found in a wide range of habitats over a long period during the summer.

Mottled Grey
Wing length about 15mm

Mottled Grey is triangular in shape

Mottled Grey has a cross-line of white chevrons near the outside of the forewing.

Early Tooth-striped
Wing length about 16mm

Early Tooth-striped is shaped like an arrow-head
The forewings are more tapered than the others in this group with the outside edge curving up to the body .