– click for Adult Macro Verification Guidelines
– Rare / Uncommon / Scarce
– care required in the identification process, as confusion with similar species is likely – quality photographs required. ID pointers: A short stubby shaped moth with broad forewings. Several dark spots along leading edge of forewing. A black wavy cross-line at the base and another cross the central area of the forewing. Wing greyish- brown or bluish-grey. A dark kidney mark and a brown wavy cross-line through centre of forewing. Ground colour is variable and there are a number of colour forms.
Distribution: (First record: 1983 at Dovedale ) – (Last record: 23 June 2023 at Sandiacre ) – A rare moth in Derbyshire with few records, the majority of which are reported from the northern half of the county. Recent records from Cromford, and Sandiacre in 2023, the last year it was recorded, may indicate some range expansion.
*** Last updated on 2 October 2025 by RP ***
Forewing: 13-17mm
Last Recorded Year: June 2023
First Recorded Year: 1983
Last Recorded By – Emily Milnes
Last Recorded General Area – Sandiacre
Selected Images:
Image Gallery
Distribution Map for Agrotis cinerea
Found 43 records
↳ 2 from After 2025
↳ 14 from 2020 - 2024
↳ 27 from Before 2020
↳ 2 from After 2025
↳ 14 from 2020 - 2024
↳ 27 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 – Agrotis cinerea
⚠️ 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:
Agrotis cinerea
( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )
Monthly Counts By Year: Agrotis cinerea
( data is based on 'Adult' stage records only. )
First/Last Recorded Dates: Agrotis cinerea
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: Agrotis cinerea
( All data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )
Annual Growth Rate (AGR): Agrotis cinerea
AGR: -3.78% | Total % Change: -50%
CUSUM Analysis: Agrotis cinerea
About this chart: CUSUM (Cumulative Sum) charts track long-term trends in moth populations [ filtered by 'Adult' and 'Mine' life stages ] by showing whether each year’s counts are above or below the historical average. Even small shifts build up over time, making trends of growth, stability, or decline easier to see. CUSUM highlights trend-consistency — asking: “Across the years, have moth counts mostly stayed above or below average?”
The data sample has 15 gap year/s here (zero records) between 2000 and 2025. The moth may have been present in those gap years, but no data was available. Too many year-gaps may exaggerate or skew the chart.
Counts for the current year (2025) are pro-rated based on data available up to month 8 (August) to provide a full-year equivalent.
ⓘ
Purple line rises = years better than average; falls = years worse than average.
Peak (best year)
Trough (worst year)
Growth periods
Decline periods
Population peaked around 2011, reaching above average levels. The lowest population point occurred near 2023, showing a significant decline.
What the Y-axis "Cumulative Deviation" means: Cumulative Deviation shows the running total of how each year’s moth population count differs from the long-term average. i
Hectad (10kmx10km) Coverage: Agrotis cinerea
( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )
Flight Periods – Indicative –vs– Recorded Data
Agrotis cinerea
Agrotis cinerea
( data includes Adult Stage only )
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 2020-2025.
Records Behind the Map and Charts - Agrotis cinerea – 43 records available
Listed by Year - descending - scroll across to see all table columns
| Site Name | Tetrad | Date | Count | Stage | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wardlow | SK17X | 15/05/2025 | 1 | adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| Wardlow, Roost Barn | SK17X | 16/05/2025 | 1 | adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| Sandiacre | SK43T | 23/06/2023 | 1 | adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| Buxton SK, UK | SK07S | 30/05/2023 | 1 | Adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| Upper Cromford Garden | SK25Y | 24/05/2023 | 1 | adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| Buxton SK, UK | SK07S | 24/05/2022 | 1 | Adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| Ferneydale Avenue | SK07Q | 21/05/2022 | 1 | adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| Buxton SK, UK | SK07S | 22/05/2020 | 1 | Adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| Buxton SK, UK | SK07S | 29/05/2020 | 1 | Adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| Ladycroft Ave, Buxton | SK07S | 07/05/2020 | 1 | adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| Ladycroft Ave, Buxton | SK07S | 14/05/2020 | 1 | adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| Ladycroft Ave, Buxton | SK07S | 15/05/2020 | 1 | adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| Ladycroft Ave, Buxton | SK07S | 17/05/2020 | 1 | adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| Ladycroft Ave, Buxton | SK07S | 18/05/2020 | 2 | adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| Ladycroft Ave, Buxton | SK07S | 28/05/2020 | 1 | adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| Middleton by Youlgreave | SK16W | 21/05/2020 | 1 | adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| Ashford In the Water (Marble Mill) | SK16Z | 26/05/2019 | 1 | adult | Danes_2019-2021 |
| Parsley Hay (Peak Park Ranger Base) | SK16L | 12/06/2016 | 1 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Hartington (station tip) | SK16K | 05/06/2016 | 1 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Ladycroft Ave | SK07S | 19/06/2013 | 1 | adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| Ladycroft Ave | SK07S | 21/06/2013 | 1 | adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| Oaks Barn Cottage, Monyash Rd, Over Haddon, Bakewell | SK26D | 01/06/2011 | 1 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Oaks Barn Cottage, Monyash Rd, Over Haddon, Bakewell | SK26D | 02/06/2011 | 21 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Buxton SK, UK | SK07S | 18/05/2011 | 1 | Adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| The Hollies,Station Rd,Darley Dale | SK26R | 10/05/2011 | 1 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Ladycroft Ave,Buxton | SK07S | 17/05/2011 | 1 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Ladycroft Ave,Buxton | SK07S | 20/05/2011 | 1 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Ladycroft Ave, Buxton | SK07S | 20/05/2011 | 1 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Ladycroft Ave, Buxton | SK07S | 17/05/2011 | 1 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Dovedale | SK15K | 07/06/2010 | 1 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Dovedale | SK15K | 07/06/2010 | 2 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Biggin Dale, nr Hartington | SK15P | 12/06/2010 | 2 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Dovedale | SK15K | 07/06/2010 | 1 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Dovedale | SK15K | 07/06/2010 | 3 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Dovedale | SK15K | 07/06/2010 | 1 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Oaks Barn Cottage, Monyash Rd, Over Haddon, Bakewell | SK26D | 28/05/2010 | 1 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Oaks Barn Cottage, Monyash Rd, Over Haddon, Bakewell | SK26D | 10/06/2009 | 1 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Hartington (Station Waste Tip) | SK16K | 30/05/2009 | 2 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Beresford Dale (Tower),Hartington | SK26D | 23/05/2007 | 2 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Wilmot St, Sawley, Long Eaton | SK43R | 11/06/1992 | 1 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Wilmot St, Sawley, Long Eaton | SK43R | 14/05/1992 | 1 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Dovedale (stepping stones) | SK15K | 12/06/1986 | 23 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Over Haddon, Bakewell (site not precise) | SK26D | 13/06/1957 | 1 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |