20.023 BF422 - Argyresthiidae - Argyresthia albistria
20.023 BF422  – Dark Blackthorn Tip Moth  – Argyresthia albistria  – (Haworth, 1828)
Adult Micro:  CAT 2 – Can be confused with other species –      
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Green –  Rare / Uncommon / Scarce   
Taxonomy:   Micro   >>  Argyresthiidae
Other Name/s: Purple Argent
ID Difficulty:  amber  – care required in the identification process, as confusion with similar species is likely – quality photographs required.
Confusion Species:  A.semitestacella
ID pointers: Tiny but distinctive being a plainer and less metallic-looking species than many others of the genus. This moth has a chestnut-brown forewing, usually with a creamy-white stripe from the head to about a third the length of the wing.
Distribution:  (Last record: 11 August 2025 at Chaddesden )  –  Found on Blackthorn, but status unknown/uncertain, and likely to be in widely scattered localities across the county.
General Comment: None
Flight Period: July /  August –  On the wing in July – August. Moth Activity: Nocturnal   – and is attracted to light Photographed: Yes –  Photographed By: Will Soar  © All Rights Reserved
*** Last updated on 2 October 2025 by RP ***
Wingspan: 9-11mm
Food Plant: Blackthorn.
Last Recorded Year: 2025
Last Recorded By – Neil Loverock
Last Recorded General Area – Chaddesden

Selected Images:  Kings Newton Derbyshire – Will Soar ©

 
 


Temporal Distribution Chart
Adults: (between 2003 - 2025)
(click legend below to show/hide datasets)
 

Distribution Map for Argyresthia albistria

Found 34 records
    ↳ from 2026+
    ↳ 18 from 2020 - 2025
    ↳ 16 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 albistria

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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 albistria
( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )

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

First/Last Recorded Dates: Argyresthia albistria
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 albistria
( All data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )
Annual Growth Rate (AGR): Argyresthia albistria
AGR: 2.35%   |   Total % Change: 66.7%

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

Flight Periods – Indicative –vs– Recorded Data
Argyresthia albistria

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 albistria – 34 records available

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

Site NameTetradDateCountStageRecorderSourceRecordKey
Staunton Harold ReservoirSK32S05/09/20251adultMcLoughlin, Margaretvc57_irecords_extractiBRC45310344
Miller's DaleSK17G19/07/20251adultSteven Bellvc57_irecords_extractiBRC43672614
Markham Vale South TipSK47K17/07/20251adultRadford, Markvc57_irecords_extractiBRC43666445
Staveley garden SYASK47H16/07/20251adultRadford, Markvc57_irecords_extractiBRC43523379
LittleoverSK33G12/07/20251adultWatson, Adrianvc57_irecords_extractiBRC43604402
LittleoverSK33G11/07/20255adultWatson, Adrianvc57_irecords_extractiBRC43603245
upper cromford gardenSK25Y05/08/20241adultAshton, Clivevc57_irecords_extractiBRC37720955
High Leas Farm, RiberSK35D28/07/20241adultThorpe, Stevevc57_irecords_extractiBRC40044942
Findern, Derbyshire, DEAZSK33A23/06/20241adultHallam, Brianvc57_irecords_extractiBRC39934392
High Leas Farm, RiberSK35D26/08/20232adultThorpe, Stevevc57_irecords_extractiBRC33497155
Kirk Hallam, IlkestonSK44K26/08/20221adultHobby, Brianvc57_irecords_extractiBRC41046211
Main Street, Kings NewtonSK32Y15/09/20201AdultSoar, Willvc57_irecords_extractiBRC34059935
Main Street, Kings NewtonSK32Y26/08/20201AdultSoar, Willvc57_irecords_extractiBRC34059936
Main Street, Kings NewtonSK32Y17/08/20201AdultSoar, Willvc57_irecords_extractiBRC34059937
Main Street, Kings NewtonSK32Y14/08/20201AdultSoar, Willvc57_irecords_extractiBRC34059938
Main Street, Kings NewtonSK32Y12/08/20202AdultSoar, Willvc57_irecords_extractiBRC34059939
Main Street, Kings NewtonSK32Y07/08/20202AdultSoar, Willvc57_irecords_extractiBRC34059940
Main Street, Kings NewtonSK32Y05/08/20203AdultSoar, Willvc57_irecords_extractiBRC34059941
Weleda Site, IlkestonSK44M07/08/20191adultThorpe, Stevevc57_irecords_extractiBRC33502601
DovedaleSK15K01/08/20111AdultD. Grundyvc57_danes_bc_dataLC000334001COXVP
Midway Rd,Midway,SwadlincoteSK32A07/08/20101AdultM.J. Williamsvc57_danes_bc_dataLC000334001CP6CM
Main Street, Kings NewtonSK32Y11/07/20051AdultSoar, Willvc57_irecords_extractiBRC34676285
Main St,Kings Newton,MelbourneSK32Y11/07/20051AdultSoar, Willvc57_danes_bc_dataLC000334001CP2NY
FOREMARK RESERVOIRSK32H03/09/20041adultDavison, Tonyvc57_irecords_extractiBRC33442705
Edgecote Drive,Newhall,SwadlincoteSK22V03/09/20041AdultTopliss, Neilvc57_danes_bc_dataLC000334001CP2F3
Foremark Resr, TicknallSK32H03/09/20041AdultA. Davison;N. Topliss;W. Soarvc57_danes_bc_dataLC000334001CP2FC
Main Street, Kings NewtonSK32Y04/08/20041AdultSoar, Willvc57_irecords_extractiBRC34676284
Main St,Kings Newton,MelbourneSK32Y04/08/20041AdultSoar, Willvc57_danes_bc_dataLC000334001CP29T
Main Street, Kings NewtonSK32Y16/07/20042AdultSoar, Willvc57_irecords_extractiBRC34676283
Main St,Kings Newton,MelbourneSK32Y16/07/20042AdultSoar, Willvc57_danes_bc_dataLC000334001CP200
Main Street, Kings NewtonSK32Y09/07/20041AdultSoar, Willvc57_irecords_extractiBRC34676282
Main St,Kings Newton,MelbourneSK32Y09/07/20041AdultSoar, Willvc57_danes_bc_dataLC000334001CP1WB
Main Street, Kings NewtonSK32Y09/08/20031AdultSoar, Willvc57_irecords_extractiBRC34676281
Main St,Kings Newton,MelbourneSK32Y09/08/20031AdultSoar, Willvc57_danes_bc_dataLC000334001CP1L5

 
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