I managed to identify this moth instantly by searching in Google Images for "moth uk maroon two spots". It seems to be the Mint Moth, Pyrausta aurata. It did not move much apart from waggling its antennae before it flew off.
Widespread from Europe to North Africa, Asia Minor, Central Asia and eastwards to Mongolia, Siberia and Japan. Common in some areas of the UK.
Very similar to Pyrausta purpuralis, though the markings on this one are distinctive. The caterpillars of both species eat members of the mint family. They probably enjoy the several Salvia species that I grow and the woundwort that I try to control.
This Mint Moth was sitting on one of my purple tomatillo plants. The Mint Moth is just over a centimetre long and looks rather lovely, like a neat little triangular rug.
The other moth I saw today was a Small Magpie, much smaller than the usual Magpies we see in Manchester. Though not much smaller than the Magpie moth Abraxas grossulariata, an unrelated gooseberry pest. The zoological name of the Small Magpie is Anania hortulata. It is from the Crambidae, the same moth family as the Mint Moth. It is very common and frequently seen in gardens. The caterpillar apparently likes nettles and woundwort so it may have overwintered in my garden.
