16.015 BF437  –  Yponomeutidae –  Yponomeutinae – Swammerdamia caesiella – Birch Drab – (Hübner, 1796) Adult Micro:  CAT 2 – Can be confused with other species –       PDF Icon – click for General Verification Guidelines  |   PDF Icon – click for Specific Verification Guidelines
Black – Uncertain/Unknown – Insufficient Data   
Taxonomy:   Micro   >>  Yponomeutidae  >> Yponomeutinae
ID Difficulty:  amber  – care required in the identification process, as confusion with similar species is likely – quality photographs required.
Confusion Species:  Paraswammerdamia nebulella. Poorly marked / worn examples required Gen Det. Grade 4
ID pointers: A tiny nondescript micro.Head whitish or brownish. Forewing a dull grey with a pallid darker brownish cross-band about half way and a dark spot on the costa near to the apex. 
Distribution:  (Last record: 8 July 2021 at Drakelow WR )  –  Uncertain/unknown due to lack of data – In Britain it is common and widespread in woodland and on heathland.
General Comment: None
Flight Period: May /  June /  July /  August /  September –  Two generations May – June & July – September Moth Activity: Cathemeral   – and is attracted to light Photographed: Yes –  Photographed By: Tony Davison  © All Rights Reserved
*** Last updated on 2 October 2025 by RP ***
Wingspan: 9-13mm
Food Plant: Birch
Last Recorded Year: 2021
Last Recorded By – iRecord data
Last Recorded General Area – Drakelow WR

Selected Images:  Melbourne, Derbyshire – Tony Davison ©

 
 


 

Distribution Map for Swammerdamia caesiella

Found 15 records
    ↳ from 2026+
    ↳ 6 from 2020 - 2025
    ↳ 9 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 – Swammerdamia caesiella

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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: Swammerdamia caesiella
( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )

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


First/Last Recorded Dates: Swammerdamia caesiella
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: Swammerdamia caesiella
( All data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )
Annual Growth Rate (AGR): Swammerdamia caesiella
AGR: 0%   |   Total % Change: 0%

Hectad (10kmx10km) Coverage: Swammerdamia caesiella
( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )

Flight Periods – Indicative –vs– Recorded Data
Swammerdamia caesiella
( 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 2020-2026.

Records Behind the Map and Charts - Swammerdamia caesiella – 15 records available

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

Site NameTetradDateCountStageSource
FroggattSK27N20/06/20251adultvc57_irecords_extract
Woodland AveSK43R15/06/20251adultvc57_irecords_extract
Buxton SK, UKSK07S17/07/20211Adultvc57_irecords_extract
Not givenSK22F08/07/20211Adultvc57_irecords_extract
Drakelow, Derbys.SK22F08/07/20211adultvc57_irecords_extract
Melbourne, DerbyshireSK32X07/08/20201adultvc57_irecords_extract
Buxton SK, UKSK07S17/07/20131Adultvc57_irecords_extract
Ladycroft AveSK07S16/07/20131adultvc57_irecords_extract
Findern Close, BelperSK34P24/07/20121Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Findern Close, BelperSK34P23/07/20121Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Thorpe, DovedaleSK15K13/10/20101Larval Feeding Signsvc57_danes_bc_data
Ladybower ResrSK18U03/09/20101Larval Feeding Signsvc57_danes_bc_data
Slippery Stones,Upper DerwentSK19S25/08/20101Larvaevc57_danes_bc_data
Rose Av,ClowneSK57D10/08/20101Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
NorburySK14G01/10/20091Larvaevc57_danes_bc_data

 
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