11.004 BF177  –  Psychidae –  Naryciinae – Dahlica inconspicuella – Lesser Lichen Bagworm – (Stainton, 1849) Adult Micro:  CAT 2 – Confusion Species –       Larval Case:  C3 – As C2 but bred moth required – reared and possibly dissected       PDF Icon – click for General Verification Guidelines  |   PDF Icon – click for Specific Verification Guidelines
Brown –  Significant Record / Very Rare / Vagrant         day-flying – Day-flying
Taxonomy:   Micro   >>  Psychidae  >> Naryciinae
Other Name/s: Lesser Lichen Case-bearer
ID Difficulty:  amber  – care required in the identification process, as confusion with similar species is likely – quality photographs required.
ID pointers: A fascinating genus with flightless females that look very strange and two of the species without known males. An added bonus is that D. inconspicuella is a possible British endemic. The forewing is speckled in a net-like patterning with white and grey over a pale brown base colour. A darker spot or blotch in central area.The cilia is chequered. The moth looks very much like an Eriocrania species which is perhaps a reason as to why it is not so often recorded.
Distribution:  (Last record: 17 April 2023 at Padley Gorge )  –  A species that has been recorded locally, to commonly in southern England northwards to Lancashire and Yorkshire, and nowhere else in the world! The status in Derbyshire is uncertain due to insufficient data. Only 2 recent records, one from 1987 and one from 2023, when one was sweep netted at Padley Gorge. Now a third one has been recorded from Longdendale (VC58) but administratively in modern Derbyshire 9/4/2025.
General Comment: None
Flight Period: April /  May –  Females are flightless – Males on the wing from April – May Photographed: Yes –  Photographed By: Sid Morris; Christian Heintzen  © All Rights Reserved
*** Last updated on 2 October 2025 by RP ***
Wingspan: 9-13mm
Food Plant: Lichens on walls, tree trunks, fences and rocks
Last Recorded Year: 2023
Last Recorded By – Sid Morris
Last Recorded General Area – Padley Gorge

Selected Images:  

Padley Gorge – 2023 – Sid Morris© / Longdendale – 9th April 2025 – (Brockholes Woodland) is in VC58 but administratively still Derbyshire – Christian Heintzen©



Distribution Map for Dahlica inconspicuella

Found 3 records
    ↳ 0 from After 2025
    ↳ 1 from 2020 - 2024
    ↳ 2 from Before 2020
Flying
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

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Bedrock Geology ** indirectly affects moth distribution by influencing the type of habitat and food plants available in an area. In turn, this may affect the types of moths that can thrive, or where they can most likely be found.


NBN Atlas UK Distribution for – Dahlica inconspicuella

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Note – the NBN Atlas datasets are listed in the map below and vary in their currency (uptodateness) – however, the map does give a general indication of the moth's distribution across the UK.

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Monthly Records By Year: Dahlica inconspicuella
( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )

Monthly Counts By Year: Dahlica inconspicuella
( data is based on 'Adult' stage records only. )


First/Last Recorded Dates: Dahlica inconspicuella
Adult-only & Anything [Larvae, Pupae, Adult, Mines]

Shading shows moth presence between dates

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Recordings By Year: Dahlica inconspicuella
( All data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )
Annual Growth Rate (AGR): Dahlica inconspicuella
AGR: 0%   |   Total % Change: 0%
Dahlica inconspicuella
Insufficient records/data for an AGR analysis
Years Analysed: 2000 – 2025
Dahlica inconspicuella
Insufficient records/data for a CUSUM analysis
Years Analysed: 2000 – 2025

Hectad (10kmx10km) Coverage: Dahlica inconspicuella
( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )

Flight Periods – Indicative –vs– Recorded Data
Dahlica inconspicuella
( data includes Adult Stage only )

Flight Period chart – the grey hatched area above, which can cross one or more months, pictorially represents the best guess we have for this moth's flight periods [month/s]. The coloured lines represent the actual months seen in flight, from site observation records received between 2020-2025.

Records Behind the Map and Charts - Dahlica inconspicuella – 3 records available

Listed by Year - descending - scroll across to see all table columns

Site NameTetradDateCountStageSource
Padley Gorge DerbyshireSK28K17/04/20231adultvc57_irecords_extract
Wragg's Quarry,Rowsley MoorSK26Y11/03/19971Casevc57_danes_bc_data
Tissington Trail, Iron Tors, Wolfscote DaleSK15N10/03/19976Casevc57_danes_bc_data

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