Unfortunately, moths do not always look like the drawing in the field guide! There are two main reasons for this. Firstly, moths wings are covered by scales which give it is colour and markings, but these become worn or dislodged so the pattern and colour can quickly fade. As a result it is not possible to identify some worn moths, particularly with species that are very similar anyway. Secondly, some species of moths are very variable from individual to individual and can cause considerable confusion, even when fresh. Clouded Drab, a common moth flying at the moment is a good example. The three pictures above are all Clouded Drabs and all were caught at the same site in Caithness this week.