20.016 BF415 – Speckled Tip Moth – Argyresthia retinella – (Zeller, 1839)
Adult Micro: CAT 2 – Can be confused with other species –
– click for General Verification Guidelines | – click for Specific Verification Guidelines
– click for General Verification Guidelines | – click for Specific Verification Guidelines 
– Uncertain/Unknown – Insufficient Data 
– 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 white forewing with brown or greyish streaks, including costal streaks. and a white head. Two very obvious brown blotches in central forewing at a half and towards the wing-tip.
Distribution: (Last record: 16 June 2025 at Midway ) – This little moth is fairly common throughout the British Isles on Birch (Betula). So most probably common in many Derbyshire Birch (Betula) woods, especially in the south of the county. Very few records so status remains uncertain/Unknown
General Comment: None *** Last updated on 2 October 2025 by RP ***
Last Recorded Year: 2025
Last Recorded By – M.Williams (iRecord)
Last Recorded General Area – Midway
Selected Images: Belper, Derbyshire – Dave Evans ©
Image Gallery
No gallery images found for this moth.
Temporal Distribution Chart
Adults: (between 1994 - 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 retinella
Found 16 records
↳ from 2026+
↳ 8 from 2020 - 2025
↳ 8 from Before 2020
↳ from 2026+
↳ 8 from 2020 - 2025
↳ 8 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 retinella
⚠️ 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 retinella
( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )
Monthly Counts By Year:
Argyresthia retinella
( data is based on 'Adult' stage records only )
First/Last Recorded Dates: Argyresthia retinella
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 retinella
( All data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )
Annual Growth Rate (AGR): Argyresthia retinella
AGR: 0% | Total % Change: 0%
Hectad (10kmx10km) Coverage: Argyresthia retinella
( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )
Flight Periods – Indicative –vs– Recorded Data
Argyresthia retinella
Argyresthia retinella
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 - Argyresthia retinella – 16 records available
Listed by Year - descending - scroll across to see all table columns
| Site Name | Tetrad | Date | Count | Stage | Recorder | Source | RecordKey |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Darwin Forest | SK26X | 05/07/2025 | 1 | adult | Evans, Dave | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC43066082 |
| Belper | SK34U | 28/06/2025 | 1 | adult | Evans, Dave | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC42802299 |
| Derbyshire Wild Life Trust Long Clough | SK09G | 20/06/2025 | 1 | adult | Heintzen, Christian | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC43979535 |
| Midway, Derbys. | SK32A | 19/06/2025 | 1 | adult | Williams, Michael | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC42543076 |
| Midway, Derbys. | SK32A | 16/06/2025 | 1 | adult | Williams, Michael | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC42447628 |
| DWT Wyver Lane | SK34P | 03/06/2025 | 1 | adult | Evans, Dave | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC42046024 |
| Belper | SK34U | 18/06/2023 | 1 | adult | Evans, Dave | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC35314909 |
| Kings Newton Fields | SK32Y | 19/06/2022 | 1 | Adult | Soar, Will | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC34059707 |
| Kings Newton Fields | SK32Y | 09/06/2014 | 1 | Adult | Soar, Will | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC34676330 |
| Ladycroft Ave,Buxton | SK07S | 23/07/2012 | 1 | Adult | Orridge, Steve | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001CP83C |
| Hardhurst Rd, Alvaston, Derby | SK33W | 20/06/2010 | 1 | Adult | I. Gardler | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001CP5FB |
| Main Street, Kings Newton | SK32Y | 13/07/2005 | 1 | Adult | Soar, Will | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC34676329 |
| Main St,Kings Newton,Melbourne | SK32Y | 13/07/2005 | 1 | Adult | Soar, Will | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001COVTW |
| Padley Gorge, Nether Padley | SK27P | 19/06/2003 | 1 | Adult | P. Hampson | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001COZOT |
| Deerlands Rd, Ashgate, Chesterfield | SK37K | 01/07/1994 | 1 | Adult | VC57 Derbyshire Recorder | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001CP133 |
| Crich Chase, Ambergate (site not precise) | SK35L | 26/06/1994 | 1 | Adult | VC57 Derbyshire Recorder | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001CP12V |