12.026 BF236 - Tineidae - Tineinae - Tineola bisselliella
12.026 BF236  – Common Clothes Moth  – Tineola bisselliella  – (Hummel, 1823)
Adult Micro:  CAT 1 – Distinctive species unlikely to be confused with others –      
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Green –  Rare / Uncommon / Scarce   
Taxonomy:   Micro   >>  Tineidae  >> Tineinae
ID Difficulty:  amber  – care required in the identification process, as confusion with similar species is likely – quality photographs required.
ID pointers: Overall a light coffee brown colour with a darker brown head.
Distribution:  (Last record: 25 June 2024 at Melbourne, Norton Lees )  –  Once common about houses. Due to man-made fabrics and drier central heating systems, the species has become less frequent.Few records of this once very common moth.
General Comment: None
Flight Period: February /  April /  May /  June /  July /  August /  September –  More or less continuously brooded apart from the winter months. Photographed: Yes –  Photographed By: Dave Evans  © All Rights Reserved
*** Last updated on 2 October 2025 by RP ***
Wingspan: 9-16mm
Food Plant: woollen clothing, upholstery and carpets.
Last Recorded Year: 2024
Last Recorded By – Tony Davison, Pete Mellor
Last Recorded General Area – Melbourne, Norton Lees

Selected Images:  Belper, Derbyshire – Dave Evans ©

 
 


Temporal Distribution Chart
Adults: (between 2010 - 2025)
(click legend below to show/hide datasets)
 

Distribution Map for Tineola bisselliella

Found 14 records
    ↳ from 2026+
    ↳ 10 from 2020 - 2025
    ↳ 4 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 – Tineola bisselliella

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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: Tineola bisselliella
( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )

Monthly Counts By Year: Tineola bisselliella
( data is based on 'Adult' stage records only )

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

Shading shows moth presence between dates

Click the colour discs below to Select/De-select as Required

Recordings By Year: Tineola bisselliella
( All data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )
Annual Growth Rate (AGR): Tineola bisselliella
AGR: 7.11%   |   Total % Change: 180%

Hectad (10kmx10km) Coverage: Tineola bisselliella
( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )

Flight Periods – Indicative –vs– Recorded Data
Tineola bisselliella

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 2020-2026.

Records Behind the Map and Charts - Tineola bisselliella – 14 records available

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

Site NameTetradDateCountStageRecorderSourceRecordKey
sheffieldSK38M13/06/20251adultTurner, Janvc57_irecords_extractiBRC42503160
sheffieldSK38M12/06/20251adultTurner, Janvc57_irecords_extractiBRC42254740
Wingerworth, DerbyshireSK36Y09/06/20251adultWindle, Jimvc57_irecords_extractiBRC42143241
Woodseats, SheffieldSK38L04/05/202510adultJim Horsfallvc57_irecords_extractiBRC41386217
BuxtonSK07L19/03/20251adultSteven Bellvc57_irecords_extractiBRC40466713
Melbourne, DerbyshireSK32X25/06/20241adultDavison, Tonyvc57_irecords_extractiBRC36666786
Norton Lees, Sheffield (VC)SK38L25/06/20242adultMella, Petevc57_irecords_extractiBRC38279198
Woodland AveSK43R19/07/20221AdultThorpe, Stevevc57_irecords_extractiBRC27846241
Woodland AveSK43R09/05/20201adultThorpe, Stevevc57_irecords_extractiBRC33500608
Shirland - Hallfieldgate LaneSK35Z24/04/20201adultMahadevan, Nikkivc57_irecords_extractiBRC34963732
Sheffield, England, United KingdomSK38L02/06/20171AdultMella, Petevc57_irecords_extractiBRC9892931
Main Street, Kings NewtonSK32Y01/06/20171AdultSoar, Willvc57_irecords_extractiBRC34059786
Shirland-Hallfieldgate LaneSK35Z13/07/20151AdultMahadevan, Nikkivc57_irecords_extractiBRC35070360
Backgarden MarehaySK34Z21/08/20101adultThorpe, Stevevc57_irecords_extractiBRC33515533

 
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