Square-spotted Clay       Heath Rustic
73.355 BF2132  –  Noctuidae –  Noctuinae – Xestia castanea – Neglected Rustic – (Esper, 1798) Adult Macro:  CAT 1 – Distinctive species unlikely to be confused with others –       PDF Icon – click for Adult Macro Verification Guidelines
Green –  Rare / Uncommon / Scarce   
Taxonomy:   Macro   >>  Noctuidae  >> Noctuinae
ID Difficulty:  green  – easy to identify, generally distinctive and unlikely to be confused with other species.
ID pointers: Fairly unmistakeable and finely marked. A diagnostic feature is the black base to the kidney mark in the central area of the forewing. There are two colour forms, red & grey with pinkish fringes to the outer edge of the forewing.
Distribution:  (Last record: 21 August 2025 at Cromford Moor )  –  A resident species that is locally common and restricted to the upland grit-stone moorlands of Derbyshire. Both red and grey colour forms occur.
Flight Period: August /  September /  –  On the wing August – September Moth Activity: Nocturnal  Photographed: Yes –  Photographed By: Bryan Barnacle, the late Claire Miles, Christian Heintzen  © All Rights Reserved
*** Last updated on 22 August 2025 by TD ***
Wingspan: 36-42mm
Forewing: 16-18mm Food Plant: Heather (Calluna) and Heath (Erica).
Last Recorded Year: 2025
Last Recorded By – Clive Ashton
Last Recorded General Area – Cromford Moor
IMAGES BELOW:  28th August 2022 – Hathersage – the late Claire Miles / Froggatt, Derbyshire – Bryan Barnacle©/ Glossop-(2024) Christian Heintzen©

Neglected Rustic - The late Claire Miles
Neglected Rustic – The late Claire Miles
Neglected Rustic - The late Clair Miles
Neglected Rustic – The late Claire Miles
Neglected Rustic - Froggatt - Bryan Barnacle
Neglected Rustic – Froggatt – Bryan Barnacle
Neglected Rustic - 29th August 2024 - Gnat Hole, Glossop - Christian Heintzen
Neglected Rustic – 29th August 2024 – Gnat Hole, Glossop – Christian Heintzen
Neglected Rustic - 27th August 2024 - Upper Bray, Glossop - Christian Heintzen
Neglected Rustic – 27th August 2024 – Upper Bray, Glossop – Christian Heintzen
Neglected Rustic - The late Claire Miles
Neglected Rustic - The late Clair Miles
Neglected Rustic - Froggatt - Bryan Barnacle
Neglected Rustic - 29th August 2024 - Gnat Hole, Glossop - Christian Heintzen
Neglected Rustic - 27th August 2024 - Upper Bray, Glossop - Christian Heintzen

2132-neglected-rustic Nelgected Rustic - Froggatt - Bryan Barnacle©

Distribution Map for Xestia castanea

Found 97 records
    ↳ 5 from After 2025
    ↳ 32 from 2020 - 2024
    ↳ 60 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.

******* Choose ONLY one at a time, of either Monad, Tetrad or Hectad Distribution - each has it's own set of data. Also, the distribution maps cover ALL recorded data. *******

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.

Land-cover * shows the variety of land-cover within the VC57 area, based on the CORINE (Coordination of Information on the Environment) forty-four thematic classes of land-cover. This will show, to a greater or lesser degree, the number and variety of moths found in different land-cover types. The UK continues to operate within the Copernicus programme, with the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH) providing Corine Land Cover (CLC) datasets for the UK and its territories.


NBN Atlas UK Distribution for – Xestia castanea

⚠️ 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.

Visit NBN Site


Monthly Records By Year: Xestia castanea
( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )

Monthly Counts By Year: Xestia castanea
( data is based on 'Adult' stage records only. )


First/Last Recorded Dates: Xestia castanea
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: Xestia castanea
( All data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )
Annual Growth Rate (AGR): Xestia castanea
AGR: -1.83%   |   Total % Change: -33.3%


CUSUM Analysis: Xestia castanea
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 12 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 7 (July) 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 2005, reaching above average levels. The lowest population point occurred near 2021, 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: Xestia castanea
( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )

Flight Periods – Indicative –vs– Recorded Data
Xestia castanea
( 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 - Xestia castanea – 97 records available

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

TaxonSite NameTetradYearDateCountStageSource
Xestia castaneaChatsworth House, Bakewell, England, GBSK27Q202502/09/20251Adultvc57_irecords_extract
Xestia castaneaCromford MoorSK25X202521/08/20251adultvc57_irecords_extract
Xestia castaneaBamford, Hope Valley SBE, UKSK28B202525/08/20251Adultvc57_irecords_extract
Xestia castaneaBamford, Hope Valley SBE, UKSK28B202525/08/20251Adultvc57_irecords_extract
Xestia castaneaBamford, Hope Valley SBE, UKSK28B202530/08/20251Adultvc57_irecords_extract
Xestia castaneaGlossop, Gnat Hole Rough FieldsSK09L202401/09/20241adultvc57_irecords_extract
Xestia castaneaCharlesworth, Cown Edge LandslideSK09A202402/09/20241adultvc57_irecords_extract
Xestia castaneaCharlesworth, Cown Edge LandslideSK09A202402/09/20242adultvc57_irecords_extract
Xestia castaneaLongdendale, Wildboar Clough WoodlandSK09U202403/09/20244adultvc57_irecords_extract
Xestia castaneaGlossop, Shawmoor PlantationSK09G202404/09/20241adultvc57_irecords_extract
Xestia castaneaGlossop, Gnat Hole Rough FieldsSK09L202406/09/20241adultvc57_irecords_extract
Xestia castaneaFroggatt, Hope ValleySK27N202407/09/20242adultvc57_irecords_extract
Xestia castaneaBirch ValeSK08I202402/09/20241adultvc57_irecords_extract
Xestia castaneaGlossop, Upper Bray CloughSK09K202410/08/20241adultvc57_irecords_extract
Xestia castaneaLongdendale, Torside Clough, Long Gutter EdgeSK09T202416/08/20241adultvc57_irecords_extract
Xestia castaneaLongdendale, Torside CloughSK09T202417/08/202410adultvc57_irecords_extract
Xestia castaneaGlossop, The TwitchlingsSK09L202418/08/20241adultvc57_irecords_extract
Xestia castaneaGlossop, Chunal MoorSK09F202420/08/20242adultvc57_irecords_extract
Xestia castaneaGlossop, The TwitchlingsSK09K202426/08/20241adultvc57_irecords_extract
Xestia castaneaGlossop, Upper Bray CloughSK09K202427/08/20248adultvc57_irecords_extract
Xestia castaneaGlossop, Gnat Hole Rough FieldsSK09L202429/08/20245adultvc57_irecords_extract
Xestia castaneaGlossop, Cown EdgeSK09A202430/08/20244adultvc57_irecords_extract
Xestia castaneaDerbyshire Wild Life Trust Long CloughSK09G202431/08/20241adultvc57_irecords_extract
Xestia castaneaBirch ValeSK08I202301/09/20231adultvc57_irecords_extract
Xestia castaneaBirch ValeSK08I202306/09/20231adultvc57_irecords_extract
Xestia castaneaLightwoodSK07M202303/09/20231adultvc57_irecords_extract
Xestia castaneaGlossop, Black Moor (m altitude)SK09Q202315/08/20233adultvc57_irecords_extract
Xestia castaneaLongdendale, Wildboar CloughSK09U202322/08/20233adultvc57_irecords_extract
Xestia castaneaGlossop, Shawmoor PlantationSK09F202323/08/202314adultvc57_irecords_extract
Xestia castaneaGlossop, Moorfield, Wood's CabinSK09L202325/08/20237adultvc57_irecords_extract
Xestia castaneaGlossop, Upper Bray CloughSK09K202327/08/202320adultvc57_irecords_extract
Xestia castaneaGlossop, Shawmoor PlantationSK09F202206/09/20225adultvc57_irecords_extract
Xestia castaneaHathersage, Derbyshire, UKSK28F202228/08/20221adultvc57_irecords_extract
Xestia castaneaGlossop, Hague Street, Hay meadowSK09G202230/08/20221adultvc57_irecords_extract
Xestia castaneaHathersageSK28F202229/08/20221adultvc57_irecords_extract
Xestia castaneaBirch ValeSK08I202120/08/20211Adultvc57_irecords_extract
Xestia castaneaBirch ValeSK08I202004/09/20201adultvc57_irecords_extract
Xestia castaneaBirch ValeSK08I201925/08/20193adultvc57_irecords_extract
Xestia castaneaBirch ValeSK08I201924/08/20191adultvc57_irecords_extract
Xestia castaneaBarbrook Resvr, BaslowSK27T201927/08/20192Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Xestia castaneaBirch ValeSK08I201802/09/20181adultvc57_irecords_extract
Xestia castaneaBirch ValeSK08I201825/09/20181adultvc57_irecords_extract
Xestia castaneaBirch ValeSK08I201820/08/20181adultvc57_irecords_extract
Xestia castaneaMatlock Moor,MatlockSK36A201401/08/20141Larvaevc57_danes_bc_data
Xestia castaneaBeeley Moor (Wragg's Quarry)SK26Y201203/09/20121Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Xestia castaneaWragg's Quarry, Beeley Moor, BeeleySK26Y201203/09/20121Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Xestia castaneaThe Mays,Malthouse Lane,FroggattSK27N201102/09/20111Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Xestia castaneaThe Mays,Malthouse Lane,FroggattSK27N201102/09/20111Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Xestia castaneaBeeley Triangle,Beeley MoorSK26Y201122/08/20114Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Xestia castaneaThe Mays,Malthouse Lane,FroggattSK27N201129/08/20111Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Xestia castaneaBeeley Triangle, Beeley Moor, BeeleySK26Y201122/08/20114Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Xestia castaneaThe Mays,Malthouse Lane,FroggattSK27N201129/08/20111Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Xestia castaneaCross Green Cottages,Flint Lane,South DarleySK26Q200811/09/20081Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Xestia castaneaBuxton (Cote Heath Allotments - plot )SK07R200828/09/20081Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Xestia castaneaCross Green Cottages,Flint Lane,South DarleySK26Q200824/08/20081Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Xestia castaneaFlash Lane,Beeley MoorSK26X200829/08/20083Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Xestia castaneaThe Field,Shipley,IlkestonSK44M200720/07/20071Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Xestia castaneaThe Field,Shipley,IlkestonSK44M200720/07/20071Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Xestia castaneaPoolsbrook, Staveley (site not precise)SK47G200521/08/20051Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Xestia castaneaLeash Fen area, Clod Hill Moor, BaslowSK27W200528/08/20055Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Xestia castaneaLeash Fen area, Clod Hill Moor, BaslowSK27W200528/08/20055Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Xestia castaneaPoolsbrook, Staveley (site not precise)SK47G200521/08/20051Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Xestia castaneaThe Hollies,Station Rd,Darley DaleSK26R200308/09/20032Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Xestia castaneaLongshaw Est, Padley GorgeSK28K200322/08/20031Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Xestia castaneaBlacka Moor,TotleySK28V199925/08/19991Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Xestia castaneaBleaklowSK09X199614/09/19961Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Xestia castaneaBleaklowSK09X199614/09/19961Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Xestia castaneaWoodlands, Combs, Chapel en le FrithSK07P199115/08/19911Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Xestia castaneaBeeley Moor, Beeley (site not precies)SK26Z199125/08/19911Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Xestia castaneaSlagmill Plantation, Beeley Moor (site not precise)SK36E199131/08/19911Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Xestia castaneaBeeley Moor, Beeley (site not precies)SK26Z199026/08/19901Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Xestia castaneaBeeley Moor (Bomb Hole)SK26Z198614/09/19861Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Xestia castaneaBeeley Moor (Bomb Hole)SK26Z198614/09/19861Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Xestia castaneaBeeley Moor, Beeley (site not precies)SK26Z198624/08/19861Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Xestia castaneaBeeley Moor, Beeley (site not precies)SK26Z198320/08/19831Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Xestia castaneaBeeley Moor, Beeley (site not precise)SK26Z198320/08/19831Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Xestia castaneaBeeley Moor, Beeley (site not precies)SK26Z197509/05/19751Larvaevc57_danes_bc_data
Xestia castaneaWragg's Quarry, Beeley MoorSK26Y197104/05/19715Larvaevc57_danes_bc_data
Xestia castaneaWragg's Quarry, Beeley Moor, BeeleySK26Y197104/05/19715Larvaevc57_danes_bc_data
Xestia castaneaSlagmill Plantation,Beeley MoorSK36E196317/09/19631Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Xestia castaneaHell Bank, Beeley MoorSK26Z196013/08/19601Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Xestia castaneaGladwin's Mark, Beeley MoorSK36D196020/08/19601Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Xestia castaneaThe Croft, Pig Lane, Beeley, MatlockSK26T195901/10/19591Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Xestia castaneaThe Croft, Pig Lane, BeeleySK26T195901/10/19591Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Xestia castaneaSlagmill Plantation,Beeley MoorSK36E195908/08/19591Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Xestia castaneaWraggs Quarry, RowsleySK26Y195704/08/19571Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Xestia castaneaWragg's Quarry, Beeley Moor, BeeleySK26Y195704/08/19571Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Xestia castaneaBeeley Moor, Beeley (site not precies)SK26Z195221/08/19523Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Xestia castaneaBeeley Moor (Slagmill Plantation) (site not precise)SK36E195221/08/19522Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Xestia castaneaBeeley Moor, Beeley (site not precise)SK26Z195221/08/19523Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Xestia castaneaBeeley Moor (Slagmill Plantation) (site not precise)SK36E195221/08/19522Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Xestia castaneaTotley Moor, Owler Bar (site not precise)SK27U195010/05/19501Larvaevc57_danes_bc_data
Xestia castaneaTotley Moor, Owler Bar (site not precise)SK27U195010/05/19501Larvaevc57_danes_bc_data
Xestia castaneaFroggatt Edge,FroggattSK27N194601/01/19461Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Xestia castaneaFroggatt Edge,FroggattSK27N194601/01/19461Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Xestia castaneaBaslow (site not precise)SK27L190501/01/19051Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Xestia castaneaBaslow (site not precise)SK27L190001/01/19001Adultvc57_danes_bc_data

Square-spotted Clay       Heath Rustic

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