– click for Adult Macro Verification Guidelines
– Rare / Uncommon / Scarce
– easy to identify, generally distinctive and unlikely to be confused with other species.ID pointers: A variable species but the main characteristic is a long black wedge shape running through the forewing that contains a rather elongated small pale straw or whitish coloured oval. Also the kidney mark is same colour as oval. Pale shoulder patches and small white vein-streaks into the forewing fringes. A moorland species.
Distribution: (Last record: 20 September 2024 at Birch Vale ) – Appears to be still a resident species whose population in Derbyshire is uncertain. An uncommon species that is found across a wide central moorland belt in the north of the county.
General Comment: None *** Last updated on 2 October 2025 by RP ***
Forewing: 14-16mm
Last Recorded Year: September 2024
Last Recorded By – Jane Hewitt
Last Recorded General Area – Birch Vale
Selected Images: Darley Dale, Derbyshire – Simon Roddis© / Glossop – Christian Heintzen©
Image Gallery
Distribution Map for Xestia agathina
Found 77 records
↳ from 2026+
↳ 21 from 2020 - 2025
↳ 56 from Before 2020
↳ from 2026+
↳ 21 from 2020 - 2025
↳ 56 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 – Xestia agathina
⚠️ 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:
Xestia agathina
( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )
Monthly Counts By Year: Xestia agathina
( data is based on 'Adult' stage records only. )
First/Last Recorded Dates: Xestia agathina
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 agathina
( All data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )
Annual Growth Rate (AGR): Xestia agathina
AGR: 4.2% | Total % Change: 180%
Hectad (10kmx10km) Coverage: Xestia agathina
( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )
Flight Periods – Indicative –vs– Recorded Data
Xestia agathina
Xestia agathina
( 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 2020-2026.
Records Behind the Map and Charts - Xestia agathina – 77 records available
Listed by Year - descending - scroll across to see all table columns
| Site Name | Tetrad | Date | Count | Stage | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| sheffield | SK38M | 12/09/2025 | 1 | adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| Cromford Moor | SK25X | 07/09/2025 | 1 | adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| Nether North Grain, Snake Road | SK19B | 24/08/2025 | 10 | adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| Stoney Clouds, meadow | SK43T | 23/08/2025 | 1 | adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| Walton Chesterfield | SK36U | 23/08/2025 | 1 | adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| Birch Vale | SK08I | 20/09/2024 | 1 | adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| Glossop, Gnat Hole Rough Fields | SK09L | 06/09/2024 | 1 | adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| Longdendale, Wildboar Clough Woodland | SK09U | 03/09/2024 | 2 | adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| Longdendale, Wildboar Clough Woodland | SK09U | 03/09/2024 | 3 | adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| Glossop, Gnat Hole Rough Fields | SK09L | 29/08/2024 | 1 | adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| Birch Vale | SK08I | 28/08/2024 | 1 | adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| Belper Garden | SK34P | 08/09/2023 | 1 | adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| Havercroft Road | SK38L | 08/09/2023 | 1 | Adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| Glossop, Upper Bray Clough | SK09K | 27/08/2023 | 3 | adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| High Leas Farm, Riber | SK35D | 26/08/2023 | 1 | adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| Glossop, Moorfield, Wood's Cabin | SK09L | 25/08/2023 | 1 | adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| Glossop, Black Moor (m altitude) | SK09Q | 15/08/2023 | 1 | adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| Glossop, The Twitchlings | SK09K | 01/09/2022 | 2 | adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| Chaddesden | SK33T | 06/09/2021 | 1 | Adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| The Mays, Malthouse Lane, Froggatt | SK27N | 06/09/2020 | 1 | adult | Danes_2019-2021 |
| Buxton SK, UK | SK07S | 23/08/2020 | 1 | Adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| DRONFIELD WOODHOUSE | SK37J | 28/08/2019 | 1 | adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| Findern, Derbyshire, DEAZ | SK33A | 27/08/2019 | 1 | adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| Havercroft Road | SK38L | 27/08/2019 | 1 | Adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| Birch Vale | SK08I | 02/09/2018 | 1 | adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| Belper | SK34U | 22/08/2018 | 1 | adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| Pleasley Pit CP, Pleasley | SK46X | 21/08/2018 | 1 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Welbeck Drive, Wingerworth | SK36T | 20/08/2018 | 1 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| DRONFIELD WOODHOUSE | SK37J | 18/08/2018 | 1 | adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| DRONFIELD WOODHOUSE | SK37J | 23/06/2018 | 1 | adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| Pleasley Pit CP, Pleasley | SK46X | 27/08/2016 | 1 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Jim Mart Nature Reserve | SK36S | 06/09/2015 | 1 | Adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| Birch Vale | SK08I | 02/08/2014 | 1 | adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| Beeley Moor (Wragg's Quarry) | SK26Y | 03/09/2012 | 4 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Beeley Moor (Slagmill Plantation) | SK36E | 03/09/2012 | 3 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Wragg's Quarry, Beeley Moor, Beeley | SK26Y | 03/09/2012 | 4 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Beeley Moor (Slagmill Plantation) | SK36E | 03/09/2012 | 3 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| The Hollies,Station Rd,Darley Dale | SK26R | 24/08/2012 | 1 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Beeley Triangle,Beeley Moor | SK26Y | 22/08/2011 | 1 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Beeley Triangle, Beeley Moor, Beeley | SK26Y | 22/08/2011 | 1 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Flash Lane,Beeley Moor | SK26X | 29/08/2008 | 5 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Alfreton Park, Alfreton | SK45C | 29/08/2008 | 1 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Alfreton Park, Alfreton | SK45C | 29/08/2008 | 1 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Ault Hucknall,Glapwell | SK46S | 09/09/2007 | 1 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Far Cross,Cavendish Park,Matlock | SK36A | 06/09/2005 | 2 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Leash Fen area, Clod Hill Moor, Baslow | SK27W | 28/08/2005 | 1 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Beeley Moor, Beeley (site not precies) | SK26Z | 09/09/2004 | 1 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Beeley Moor, Beeley (site not precise) | SK26Z | 09/09/2004 | 1 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| The Mays,Malthouse Lane,Froggatt | SK27N | 22/08/2003 | 1 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Longshaw Est, Padley Gorge | SK28K | 22/08/2003 | 1 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| The Mays,Malthouse Lane,Froggatt | SK27N | 22/08/2003 | 1 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| School Close,Parkway Gardens,Darley Dale | SK26R | 01/09/2000 | 1 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| School Close,Parkway Gardens,Darley Dale | SK26R | 01/09/2000 | 1 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| School Close,Parkway Gardens,Darley Dale | SK26R | 26/08/1999 | 1 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Blacka Moor,Totley | SK28V | 25/08/1999 | 1 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Beeley Moor, Beeley (site not precies) | SK26Z | 26/08/1994 | 14 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Beeley Moor, Beeley (site not precies) | SK26Z | 26/08/1994 | 14 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Beeley Moor (site not precise) | SK26Z | 26/08/1994 | 14 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Beeley Moor, Beeley (site not precies) | SK26Z | 29/07/1994 | 3 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Beeley Moor, Beeley (site not precies) | SK26Z | 29/07/1994 | 3 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Beeley Moor (site not precise) | SK26Z | 29/07/1994 | 3 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Ladycroft Ave,Buxton | SK07S | 08/07/1994 | 2 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Ladycroft Ave,Buxton | SK07S | 15/09/1993 | 1 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Ladycroft Ave, Buxton | SK07S | 15/09/1993 | 1 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Ladycroft Ave, Buxton | SK07S | 15/09/1993 | 1 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Parkway, New Mills | SK08D | 05/09/1991 | 1 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Woodlands, Combs, Chapel en le Frith | SK07P | 31/08/1991 | 1 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Woodlands, Combs, Chapel en le Frith | SK07P | 31/08/1991 | 1 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Beeley Moor, Beeley (site not precies) | SK26Z | 25/08/1991 | 1 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Beeley Moor (Triangle) | SK27Y | 01/09/1990 | 1 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Deerlands Rd, Ashgate, Chesterfield | SK37K | 01/09/1990 | 2 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Beeley Moor (Triangle) | SK27Y | 01/09/1990 | 1 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Deerlands Rd, Ashgate, Chesterfield | SK37K | 01/09/1990 | 2 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Beeley Moor (Triangle) | SK27Y | 26/08/1990 | 2 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Beeley Moor (Triangle) | SK27Y | 26/08/1990 | 2 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Breadsall Moor, Little Eaton | SK33U | 01/01/1878 | 2 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Breadsall Moor, Little Eaton | SK33U | 01/01/1878 | 2 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |