19.011 BF473  – Leek Moth  – Acrolepiopsis assectella  – (Zeller, 1839)
Adult Micro:  CAT 2 – Can be confused with other species –       Leaf-miner:  CAT L – The leaf or a Photo required – reared and possibly dissected       Larval Case:  C1 – Distinctive Species –      
PDF Icon – click for General Verification Guidelines  |   PDF Icon – click for Specific Verification Guidelines
Green –  Rare / Uncommon / Scarce        purple – Leaf-miner
Taxonomy:   Micro   >>  Glyphipterigidae  >> Acrolepiinae
ID Difficulty:  amber  – care required in the identification process, as confusion with similar species is likely – quality photographs required.
Confusion Species:  Similar to other Acrolepiopsis sp.
ID pointers: The forewing is a greyish brown with scattered dark brown and whitish markings. A distinct white triangular mark about half way along the folded wing and further mottling of white in the terminal area of the wing.
Distribution:  (Last record: 23 August 2024 at Ilkeston )  –  Not listed in Harrison & Sterling (1988) – A nationally local species spreading northwards. Generally widespread but uncommon and likely to be local in the county where leek, onion or chives are grown. 
General Comment: None
Flight Period: January /  February /  March /  April /  May /  June /  July /  October /  November /  December –  On the wing during most months of the year. Mine Period:  May /  June /  August /  September /  October
Mine Period Additional: None.
Mine ID Difficulty:  Red Mine Leaf – Mine cannot be identified without breeding through and then adult may need to be examined by Gen Det Prep.
Mine Type/s: Not Recorded
Mine Feeding Method/s: Not Recorded
Mine Comment: Once the larvae hatch they immediately begin mining the leaves of Allium plants, such as leek, onion, garlic. Initially feeding internally and creating corridors or blotch mines. The larvae produce characteristic “windowpane” damage where they eat the inner leaf tissue, leaving the outer epidermis intact.    
Moth Activity: Cathemeral   – and is attracted to light Photographed: Yes –  Photographed By: Brian Hallam  © All Rights Reserved
*** Last updated on 15 March 2026 by TD ***
Wingspan: 11-14mm
Food Plant: Onion, leek or garlic.
Last Recorded Year: 2024
Last Recorded By – Brian Hobby
Last Recorded General Area – Ilkeston

Selected Images:  Findern, Derbyshire – Brian Hallam ©

 
 


Temporal Distribution Chart
Adults: (between 2018 - 2026)
(click legend below to show/hide datasets)
This chart summarises all available historical occurrence records collated by ISO week of the year. It reflects recorder effort and sampling distribution as well as true biological activity, and should be interpreted as an indicative pattern of seasonal occurrence rather than a statistically controlled abundance or phenology model.

 

Distribution Map for Acrolepiopsis assectella

Found 38 records
    ↳ 1 from 2026+
    ↳ 35 from 2020 - 2025
    ↳ 2 from Before 2020
Flying
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Mining
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

If the Map Layers function fails, just refresh the page and it should be OK after. Use the +- zoom on the top left, or on a tablet, use two fingers to zoom. Remember, the last layer you ticked is the one which displays the popup information - they sit on top of each other - de-select then re-select, to see the popup values.

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 – Acrolepiopsis assectella

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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.

Visit NBN Site


Monthly Records By Year: Acrolepiopsis assectella
( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )

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

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

Hectad (10kmx10km) Coverage: Acrolepiopsis assectella
( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )

Flight Periods – Indicative –vs– Recorded Data
Acrolepiopsis assectella

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.

Mine Periods – Indicative –vs– Recorded Data
Acrolepiopsis assectella
( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )

Mine 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 mine periods [month/s]. The coloured lines represent the actual months seen mining, from site observation records received between 2020-2026.

Records Behind the Map and Charts - Acrolepiopsis assectella – 38 records available

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

Site Name Tetrad Date Count Stage Recorder Source RecordKey
Staveley garden SYA SK47H 08/04/2026 1 adult Radford, Mark vc57_irecords_extract iBRC51436157
Chaddesden, Derby SK33T 23/08/2025 1 adult roome, martin vc57_irecords_extract iBRC44885966
Belper SK34N 28/07/2025 1 adult Evans, Dave vc57_irecords_extract iBRC43948642
Staveley garden SYA SK47H 21/07/2025 1 adult Radford, Mark vc57_irecords_extract iBRC43714608
Derby DE SK33I 14/06/2025 1 adult Watson, Adrian vc57_irecords_extract iBRC43638947
Midway, Derbys. SK32A 20/03/2025 1 adult Williams, Michael vc57_irecords_extract iBRC40484865
Findern, Derbyshire, DEAZ SK33A 01/09/2024 1 adult Hallam, Brian vc57_irecords_extract iBRC39935073
Ilkeston, Derbyshire SK44K 23/08/2024 2 adult Hobby, Brian vc57_irecords_extract iBRC38197323
Belper SK34U 12/08/2024 1 adult Evans, Dave vc57_irecords_extract iBRC37871275
Findern, Derbyshire, DEAZ SK33A 05/08/2024 1 adult Hallam, Brian vc57_irecords_extract iBRC39934820
Midway, Derbys. SK32A 03/08/2024 1 adult Williams, Michael vc57_irecords_extract iBRC39954680
Belper SK34U 20/07/2024 1 adult Evans, Dave vc57_irecords_extract iBRC37244282
Findern, Derbyshire, DEAZ SK33A 09/07/2024 1 adult Hallam, Brian vc57_irecords_extract iBRC39934569
Sandiacre SK43T 13/04/2024 1 adult Milnes, Emily vc57_irecords_extract iBRC37895816
Ilkeston, Derbyshire SK44K 11/04/2024 1 adult Hobby, Brian vc57_irecords_extract iBRC35603689
Sandiacre, Derbyshire SK43S 05/04/2024 1 adult paul buxton vc57_irecords_extract iBRC35327807
Mickleover garden SK33C 14/03/2024 1 adult Maughan, Christine vc57_irecords_extract iBRC36239826
Woodland Avenue Mothtrap SK43R 12/03/2024 1 adult Thorpe, Steve vc57_irecords_extract iBRC35298550
Sandiacre SK43T 19/11/2023 1 adult Milnes, Emily vc57_irecords_extract iBRC34681536
Belper Garden SK34P 08/09/2023 1 adult Evans, Dave vc57_irecords_extract iBRC34544606
Belper SK34U 29/08/2023 1 adult Evans, Dave vc57_irecords_extract iBRC35298061
Kings Newton Fields SK32Y 03/08/2023 3 Adult Soar, Will vc57_irecords_extract iBRC34880665
Findern Garden SK33A 30/06/2023 1 Adult Hallam, Brian vc57_irecords_extract iBRC34637825
Findern, Derbyshire, DEAZ SK33A 05/08/2022 1 adult Brian and Jean Hallam vc57_irecords_extract iBRC35167460
Sandiacre SK43T 10/06/2022 1 adult Milnes, Emily vc57_irecords_extract iBRC35176410
Kirk Hallam, Ilkeston SK44K 15/04/2022 1 adult Hobby, Brian vc57_irecords_extract iBRC41045625
Kirk Hallam, Ilkeston SK44K 25/03/2022 1 adult Hobby, Brian vc57_irecords_extract iBRC41045598
Woodland Ave SK43R 05/09/2021 1 adult Thorpe, Steve vc57_irecords_extract iBRC33499477
Findern, Derbyshire, DEAZ SK33A 23/06/2021 1 adult Brian and Jean Hallam vc57_irecords_extract iBRC35164856
Main Street, Kings Newton SK32Y 03/09/2020 1 Adult Soar, Will vc57_irecords_extract iBRC34059906
Allestree, Derby SK33P 10/08/2020 1 adult Plant, Stephen vc57_irecords_extract iBRC46320907
Woodland Ave SK43R 09/08/2020 1 adult Thorpe, Steve vc57_irecords_extract iBRC33502015
Main Street, Kings Newton SK32Y 07/08/2020 1 Adult Soar, Will vc57_irecords_extract iBRC34059907
Woodland Ave SK43R 06/08/2020 2 adult Thorpe, Steve vc57_irecords_extract iBRC33501949
Findern, Derbyshire, DEAZ SK33A 24/06/2020 1 adult Brian and Jean Hallam vc57_irecords_extract iBRC35162930
Findern, Derbyshire, DEAZ SK33A 10/04/2020 1 adult Brian and Jean Hallam vc57_irecords_extract iBRC35162191
Main Street, Kings Newton SK32Y 21/03/2019 1 Adult Soar, Will vc57_irecords_extract iBRC34059908
Main Street, Kings Newton SK32Y 19/07/2018 1 Adult Soar, Will vc57_irecords_extract iBRC34059909

 
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