20.007 BF409b – Cypress-tip Moth – Argyresthia cupressella – (Walsingham, 1890)
Adult Micro: CAT 2 – Can be confused with other species – Leaf-miner: CAT L – The leaf or a Photo required – 
– click for General Verification Guidelines | – click for Specific Verification Guidelines
– click for General Verification Guidelines | – click for Specific Verification Guidelines 
– Rare / Uncommon / Scarce 
– Leaf-miner 
– Day-flying
– care required in the identification process, as confusion with similar species is likely – quality photographs required. ID pointers: Tiny but distinctive with a shining golden and white mottled upper-wing and golden thorax and a white head. Banded antennae.
Distribution: (Last record: 26 June 2024 at Belper ) – This little moth was not recorded in Britain until 1997. Originating from North America has most probably been introduced with its food plant, ornamental conifers – Cypress and Juniper. Derbyshire status uncommon few but widespread records
General Comment: None Mine Period Additional: None.
Mine ID Difficulty: Not Recorded
Mine Type/s: Not Recorded
Mine Feeding Method/s: Not Recorded
Mine Comment: None.
*** Last updated on 2 October 2025 by RP ***
Last Recorded Year: 2024
Last Recorded By – Dave Evans
Last Recorded General Area – Belper
Selected Images: Belper, Derbyshire – Dave Evans ©
Image Gallery
No gallery images found for this moth.
Temporal Distribution Chart
Adults: (between 2017 - 2025)
(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 Argyresthia cupressella
Found 44 records
↳ from 2026+
↳ 42 from 2020 - 2025
↳ 2 from Before 2020
↳ from 2026+
↳ 42 from 2020 - 2025
↳ 2 from Before 2020
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 – Argyresthia cupressella
⚠️ Please wait for the map to load fully – do not click the link shown.
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.
Monthly Records By Year:
Argyresthia cupressella
( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )
Monthly Counts By Year:
Argyresthia cupressella
( data is based on 'Adult' stage records only )
First/Last Recorded Dates: Argyresthia cupressella
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: Argyresthia cupressella
( All data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )
Annual Growth Rate (AGR): Argyresthia cupressella
AGR: 0.58% | Total % Change: 4.8%
Hectad (10kmx10km) Coverage: Argyresthia cupressella
( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )
Flight Periods – Indicative –vs– Recorded Data
Argyresthia cupressella
Argyresthia cupressella
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
Argyresthia cupressella
Argyresthia cupressella
( 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 - Argyresthia cupressella – 44 records available
Listed by Year - descending - scroll across to see all table columns
| Site Name | Tetrad | Date | Count | Stage | Recorder | Source | RecordKey |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buxton (p) | SK07R | 12/07/2025 | 1 | adult | White, Ian | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC43394117 |
| Midway, Derbys. | SK32A | 19/06/2025 | 1 | adult | Williams, Michael | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC42543075 |
| Midway, Derbys. | SK32A | 16/06/2025 | 1 | adult | Williams, Michael | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC42447627 |
| Woodland Ave | SK43R | 15/06/2025 | 3 | adult | Thorpe, Steve | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC48390822 |
| Midway, Derbys. | SK32A | 14/06/2025 | 4 | adult | Williams, Michael | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC42348553 |
| Belper | SK34U | 14/06/2025 | 1 | adult | Evans, Dave | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC42315873 |
| Mickleover garden | SK33C | 11/06/2025 | 1 | adult | Maughan, Christine | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC43701261 |
| Chaddesden Garden | SK33T | 11/06/2025 | 1 | adult | loverock, neil | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC42715822 |
| Midway, Derbys. | SK32A | 31/05/2025 | 3 | adult | Williams, Michael | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC42017764 |
| Mickleover garden | SK33C | 30/05/2025 | 1 | adult | Maughan, Christine | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC42105755 |
| Woodland Ave | SK43R | 30/05/2025 | 1 | adult | Thorpe, Steve | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC48390710 |
| Mickleover garden | SK33C | 29/05/2025 | 2 | adult | Maughan, Christine | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC42104880 |
| Chaddesden, Derby | SK33T | 27/05/2025 | 1 | adult | roome, martin | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC42702447 |
| Mickleover garden | SK33C | 20/05/2025 | 1 | adult | Maughan, Christine | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC42103821 |
| Darley Bridge | SK26Q | 04/07/2024 | 1 | Adult | Moores, Stephen | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC36865699 |
| Belper | SK34U | 26/06/2024 | 1 | adult | Evans, Dave | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC36978542 |
| Norton Lees, Sheffield (VC) | SK38L | 24/06/2024 | 1 | adult | Mella, Pete | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC38279163 |
| Norton Lees, Sheffield, UK | SK38L | 24/06/2024 | 1 | Adult | Mella, Pete | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC46920295 |
| Belper | SK34U | 23/06/2024 | 1 | adult | Evans, Dave | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC36622347 |
| Midway, Derbys. | SK32A | 11/06/2024 | 1 | adult | Williams, Michael | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC39954955 |
| Staveley Derbyshire | SK47H | 02/06/2024 | 1 | adult | Morris, Sid | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC36247370 |
| Woodland Ave | SK43R | 24/05/2024 | 1 | adult | Thorpe, Steve | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC40044479 |
| Midway, Derbys. | SK32A | 17/05/2024 | 1 | adult | Williams, Michael | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC39954989 |
| Woodland Ave | SK43R | 17/05/2024 | 2 | adult | Thorpe, Steve | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC40044428 |
| King's Newton | SK32Y | 15/05/2024 | 1 | adult | Soar, Will | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC40386826 |
| Mickleover garden | SK33C | 27/06/2023 | 1 | adult | Maughan, Christine | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC35621369 |
| Hathersage, Derbyshire, UK | SK28F | 24/06/2023 | 1 | adult | Miles, Claire | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC31129812 |
| Belper | SK34U | 18/06/2023 | 1 | adult | Evans, Dave | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC35314908 |
| Findern Garden | SK33A | 10/06/2023 | 1 | Adult | Hallam, Brian | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC34637424 |
| Allestree, Derby | SK33P | 11/08/2022 | 1 | adult | Plant, Stephen | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC34958479 |
| Allestree, Derby | SK33P | 01/08/2022 | 1 | adult | Plant, Stephen | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC34958468 |
| Findern, Derbyshire, DEAZ | SK33A | 06/06/2022 | 1 | adult | Brian and Jean Hallam | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC35166449 |
| Woodland Ave | SK43R | 08/07/2021 | 1 | adult | Thorpe, Steve | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC33498637 |
| Woodland Ave | SK43R | 26/06/2021 | 1 | adult | Thorpe, Steve | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC33498451 |
| Midway, Derbys. | SK32A | 22/06/2021 | 1 | adult | Williams, Michael | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC38494265 |
| Woodland Ave | SK43R | 15/06/2021 | 1 | adult | Thorpe, Steve | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC33498392 |
| Woodland Ave | SK43R | 04/06/2021 | 1 | adult | Thorpe, Steve | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC33498256 |
| The Mays, Malthouse Lane, Froggatt | SK27N | 13/07/2020 | 1 | adult | BARNACLE, Mr B.&.Mrs.K. | Danes_2019-2021 | 549 |
| Norton Lees | SK38L | 15/06/2020 | 1 | adult | MELLA, Mr P.J. | Danes_2019-2021 | 673 |
| The Mays, Malthouse Lane, Froggatt | SK27N | 14/06/2020 | 1 | adult | BARNACLE, Mr B.&.Mrs.K. | Danes_2019-2021 | 677 |
| Woodland Ave | SK43R | 25/05/2020 | 1 | adult | Thorpe, Steve | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC33500717 |
| Douglas Rd, Long Eaton | SK43S | 25/05/2020 | 1 | adult | BUXTON, Mr P. | Danes_2019-2021 | 742 |
| Main Street, Kings Newton | SK32Y | 31/05/2017 | 2 | Adult | Soar, Will | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC34059917 |
| Main Street, Kings Newton | SK32Y | 30/05/2017 | 1 | Adult | Soar, Will | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC34059916 |