Online Recording FAQ's

Some recorders don't have access the the Internet, how can they take part?
We acknowledge that not all moth recorders want or have access to the Internet and realise this may preclude some recorders from taking part in Moth Night. If anyone is aware of any moth recorders who do not have access to the Internet but know they still wish to take part, please advise them to write to us at Moth Night, Butterfly Conservation, Manor Yard, East Lulworth, Dorset BH20 5QP for details on how to take part.

I used to be able to send my data in any format of my choice. Why am I not able to do so now?
We introduced online recording because we no longer have the resources to handle and validate data in the myriad of electronic and paper formats in which data were previously submitted. With the growing popularity of Moth Night and the subsequent increased workload, this free-for-all data collation method became a herculean and unsustainable task.

Online recording offers: a single point of standardised data entry; real-time data validation; virtually eliminates data duplication and provides instant feedback of results.

How do I submit my records to Moth Night?
Submission of all records is via our online recording system via the "Submit your records here" link located on the right-hand side of this page which is made 'live' from the first day of the event until the deadline for data submission.

If you have previously submitted data, just login and start to enter you data.

If you've not previously submitted data you will need to create a new account: After selecting the "Submit..." link, select the "create a new account" link and complete the form - please ensure you supply a valid email address and that you are able to receive emails. You will then be forwarded your new account details via email which includes your new login ID and a default password. If you have not received an email within 10 - 15 minutes, please check your Junk Email or Spam inboxes as the email with your login details may have been redirected by either your Internet Service Provider or your email client software. If problems persist trying to register, please email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it with details of the problem.

You are strongly advised to change your new password once you have logged in for the first time by selecting My Account from the footer-menu.

Can I add, edit or delete records once I have submitted my records?
If, once you have entered your records, you wish to make changes to your records, you can do so at any time right up to the data submission deadline. Simply click the "Submit your records here" link, login and select Edit Records from the footer-menu. Then select under the Action heading the Edit link that is adjacent to the record of interest. You will be taken directly to Your Records for that recording session. You can then:

• add new species records - click in the bottom row, left-hand box in the grid, then type the new species name and add record attributes details as before - this also makes available the Add Another button if you wish to add more than one additional record.
• edit existing species records by overwriting the appropriate record attribute. Note you cannot edit the species name, you must delete the record and add a new one!
• delete records by clicking the X to the left of the appropriate record.
• edit any other data under each of the other tabs before saving your records for that recording session in the Your Consent section.

Remember, you can perform all of these tasks right up to the data submission deadline!

I took part, but didn't record any moths?
We still would like to know if you caught no moths (zero abundance). This helps us get a fuller picture of Moth Night participation irrespective of whether or not moths were recorded..

Duplicate records - how to avoid them!
All moth recorders like to maintain their own records; however, with recording events such as Moth Night, groups of moth recorders do sometime submit multiple copies of the same data which not only duplicates effort and data, it increases the incidence of data error during validation. To avoid the duplication of data, especially where more than one moth recorder is present at a meeting or event, please appoint a single moth recorder to submit records to Moth Night.

Below is a simplifed flow diagram of the recommended dataflow model which avoids duplication of data and minimises human error.

Duplication of data also commonly occurs when recorders forward their data to both Moth Night and their County Recorder and the County Recorder in good faith, sends duplicate data as part of a collated county dataset to Moth Night. County Recorders may wish to collate data from their recorders during the Moth Night data submission process for local newsletters and reports. However, to avoid duplication of data to Moth Night, County Recorders must avoid forwarding recorders data along with their own before the deadline!

It is assumed all received data before the data submission deadline are unverified. County Recorders are given the opportunity to verify Moth Night data for inclusion into their county datasets after the data submission deadline.

What happens to my records?
The records from participants across the country will be pooled into a fascinating summary of what was on the wing on Moth Night, and published in the journal Atropos. If you take any photographs of activities or species recorded during Moth Night please e-mail to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it for possible publication in Atropos or in a future update of this website.

I am a County Moth Recorder and I'm concerned online recording bypasses the County Moth Recorder network?
Moth Night and Butterfly Conservation supports the County Moth Recorder network. Online recording does not bypass the County Moth Recorder network at any stage. All County Moth Recorders, immediately after the data submission deadline, are forwarded all data received for verification (not compulsary) and inclusion into local datasets.

For this to work successfully and to minimise data and human error, County Moth Recorders are kindly requested not to forward verified datasets for their vice-counties to Moth Night before the data submission deadline (see the above flow diagram).

I'm having problems with the online recording form, it doesn't work with my Internet browser?
Our online recording system has been thoroughly tested for compatibility across all of the popular Internet browsers i.e Internet Explorer, Firefox, Chrome etc. However, we cannot guarantee complete compatibility across all known Internet browsers, versions and variants thereof.

In the unlikely event you experience problems with the online recording system, please email the address at the top of this page with a description of the problem along with the Internet browser software and version.

When is the deadline for data submission?
The deadline for data submission for Moth Night 2012 has now passed and all data are being forwarded to the relevant County Moth Recorders for verification. The deadline for data subbmission for Moth Night 2013 is Sunday, 1 December 2013.

Prizes

Prizes will be awarded in the following categories:

The most significant record of a macro-moth.
A copy of Conifer Moths of the British Isles—A Field Guide to the Coniferous-feeding Lepidoptera will be awarded by Anglian Lepidopterist Supplies.

The most significant record of a micro-moth.
A softback copy of Moths and Butterflies of Great Britain and Ireland Volume 4 parts 1 and 2 will be awarded by the publisher, Apollo Books.

The most significant record of a macro-moth or a micro-moth recorded at a brownfield site.
£100 of goods of the winner’s choice will be donated by Bioquip from the range of equipment they supply.

The most significant immigrant record.
Books to the value of £50, of the winner’s choice, will be awarded from the range of titles available from  Atropos Books.

In order to qualify for prizes the record must be accepted by the relevant County Moth Recorder. In order to qualify for the most significant immigrant moth prize, full details of the capture must be posted on the Flight Arrivals page on the Atropos website, or left on the answermachine on 01326 290287. Members of the Atropos editorial team and Butterfly Conservation staff are not eligible for prizes.