20.018 BF417 - Argyresthiidae - Argyresthia spinosella - Will Soar 30/5/2017 Kings Newton
20.018 BF417  – Blackthorn Tip Moth  – Argyresthia spinosella  – (Stainton, 1849)
Adult Micro:  CAT 2 – Can be confused with other species –       Leaf-miner:  CAT A – Recorded accepted without the leaf or a photo –       Larval Case:  C1 – Distinctive Species –      
PDF Icon – click for General Verification Guidelines  |   PDF Icon – click for Specific Verification Guidelines
Black – Uncertain/Unknown – Insufficient Data        day-flying – Day-flying
Taxonomy:   Micro   >>  Argyresthiidae
Other Name/s: Blackthorn Argent
ID Difficulty:  Red – difficult to identify – detailed examination required, often a Gen Det and/or specimen and quality photographs are required.
Confusion Species: A.semifusca
ID pointers: Head and upper body (Tegulae) orange-brown. Forewing brownish-grey with a slight purplish tinge. A white streak along the dorsum, from the base to the tornus, split by a purplish grey-brown cross band across the middle of the forewing.
Distribution:  (Last record: 19 June 2023 at Cromford )  –  Unknown/ Uncertain in the county, as so few records. Found on Blackthorn.
General Comment: None
Flight Period: June /  July –  On the wing in June – July. Moth Activity: Cathemeral   – and is attracted to light Photographed: Yes –  Photographed By: Will Soar  © All Rights Reserved
*** Last updated on 7 November 2025 by RP ***
Wingspan: 9-11mm
Food Plant: Blackthorn.
Last Recorded Year: 2023
Last Recorded By – Clive Ashton
Last Recorded General Area – Cromford

Selected Images:  Kings Newton, Derbyshire – Will Soar ©

 
 


Temporal Distribution Chart
Adults: (between 2012 - 2025)
(click legend below to show/hide datasets)
 

Distribution Map for Argyresthia spinosella

Found 8 records
    ↳ from 2026+
    ↳ 6 from 2020 - 2025
    ↳ 2 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 – Argyresthia spinosella

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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: Argyresthia spinosella
( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )

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

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

Hectad (10kmx10km) Coverage: Argyresthia spinosella
( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )

Flight Periods – Indicative –vs– Recorded Data
Argyresthia spinosella

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 spinosella – 8 records available

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

Site NameTetradDateCountStageRecorderSourceRecordKey
Midway, Derbys.SK32A19/06/20251adultWilliams, Michaelvc57_irecords_extractiBRC42543077
Midway, Derbys.SK32A12/06/20251adultWilliams, Michaelvc57_irecords_extractiBRC42283048
Upper Cromford GardenSK25Y19/06/20231adultAshton, Clivevc57_irecords_extractiBRC34569040
Midway, Derbys.SK32A26/06/20211adultWilliams, Michaelvc57_irecords_extractiBRC38494300
Midway, Derbys.SK32A22/06/20211adultWilliams, Michaelvc57_irecords_extractiBRC38494266
Findern, Derbyshire, DEAZSK33A16/06/20213adultBrian and Jean Hallamvc57_irecords_extractiBRC35164795
Main Street, Kings NewtonSK32Y30/05/20171AdultSoar, Willvc57_irecords_extractiBRC34059933
Carr WoodSK45A22/06/20121adultThorpe, Stevevc57_irecords_extractiBRC33510341

 
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