73.246 BF2185 – Lead-coloured Drab – Orthosia populeti – (Fabricius, 1781)
Adult Macro: CAT 3 – Difficult to identify – Quality set of photographs required – 
– click for Adult Macro Verification Guidelines
– click for Adult Macro Verification Guidelines
– Significant Record / Very Rare / Vagrant
– care required in the identification process, as confusion with similar species is likely – quality photographs required. Confusion Species: Clouded Drab; Common Quaker
ID pointers: The wings are grey brown and rounded at the tip. Very plainly marked but there is often a row of small black dots along the inner edge of the fringed outer wing. Male has feathered antennae.
Distribution: (Last record: 8 March 2026 at Cromford ) – A resident that has become exceedingly rare and locally distributed in Derbyshire. Was a common species, especially in the south but now restricted to woodland containing Aspen (Populus tremula). Since 2007 there has been one record in 2019, and one record in 2021. Several records suddenly in March 2026 could relate to an influx of immigrants.
General Comment: None *** Last updated on 29 March 2026 by RP ***
Forewing: 15-17mm
Last Recorded Year: 2026
Last Recorded By – Clive Ashton
Last Recorded General Area – Cromford
Selected Images:
Kings Newton (2003) Derbyshire; Foremark Res (2005) Derbyshire – Tony Davison© / Cromford March 2026 Clive Ashton©
Image Gallery
Temporal Distribution Chart
Adults: (between 1963 - 2026) | Immatures: (between 1980 - 1980)
(click legend below to show/hide datasets)
This chart summarises all available historical occurrence records collated by ISO week of the year. It reflects recorder effort and sampling distribution as well as true biological activity, and should be interpreted as an indicative pattern of seasonal occurrence rather than a statistically controlled abundance or phenology model.
Distribution Map for Orthosia populeti
Found 30 records
↳ 7 from 2026+
↳ 1 from 2020 - 2025
↳ 22 from Before 2020
↳ 7 from 2026+
↳ 1 from 2020 - 2025
↳ 22 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 – Orthosia populeti
⚠️ 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:
Orthosia populeti
( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )
Monthly Counts By Year:
Orthosia populeti
( data is based on 'Adult' stage records only )
First/Last Recorded Dates: Orthosia populeti
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: Orthosia populeti
( All data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )
Annual Growth Rate (AGR): Orthosia populeti
AGR: -1.24% | Total % Change: -25%
Hectad (10kmx10km) Coverage: Orthosia populeti
( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )
Flight Periods – Indicative –vs– Recorded Data
Orthosia populeti
Orthosia populeti
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 - Orthosia populeti – 30 records available
Listed by Year - descending - scroll across to see all table columns
| Site Name | Tetrad | Date | Count | Stage | Recorder | Source | RecordKey |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chellaston, Derby, Derby | SK33V | 08/04/2026 | 1 | adult | Pittam, Richard | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC51357860 |
| Inkersall garden | SK47G | 31/03/2026 | 1 | adult | Cambridge, Don | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC51126061 |
| Staveley garden SYA | SK47H | 31/03/2026 | 1 | adult | Radford, Mark | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC51143508 |
| carsington water | SK25K | 17/03/2026 | 1 | adult | Ashton, Clive | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC50638717 |
| Midway, Derbys. | SK32A | 17/03/2026 | 1 | adult | Williams, Michael | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC50669248 |
| carsington water | SK25K | 11/03/2026 | 1 | adult | Ashton, Clive | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC50581460 |
| upper cromford garden | SK25Y | 08/03/2026 | 1 | adult | Ashton, Clive | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC50544555 |
| Midway, Derbys. | SK32A | 29/03/2021 | 1 | adult | Williams, Michael | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC38493889 |
| Findern, Derbyshire, DEAZ | SK33A | 22/03/2019 | 1 | adult | Brian and Jean Hallam | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC35160941 |
| Hardhurst Rd, Alvaston, Derby | SK33W | 30/04/2014 | 1 | Adult | I. Gardler | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001WP2A2 |
| Hardhurst Rd, Alvaston, Derby | SK33W | 31/03/2011 | 1 | Adult | I. Gardler | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001WPCXI |
| Hardhurst Rd, Alvaston, Derby | SK33W | 29/03/2011 | 3 | Adult | I. Gardler | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001WPCWV |
| Hardhurst Rd, Alvaston, Derby | SK33W | 28/03/2011 | 2 | Adult | I. Gardler | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001WQ4I6 |
| Hardhurst Rd, Alvaston, Derby | SK33W | 28/04/2010 | 1 | Adult | I. Gardler | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001OKRCY |
| Beresford Dale (Tower),Hartington | SK15J | 27/04/2007 | 1 | Adult | D.A. Clarke | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001OJH88 |
| Beresford Dale (Tower),Hartington | SK15J | 07/04/2007 | 2 | Adult | D.A. Clarke | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001OI9D6 |
| Brierley Hill,Unstone | SK37S | 13/03/2007 | 1 | Adult | D.A. Clarke | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001OJGW9 |
| Calke Park,Ticknall | SK32L | 12/03/2007 | 2 | Adult | G.L. Finch;K. Tailby;M.A. Finch | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001OJGVQ |
| Edgecote Drive,Newhall,Swadlincote | SK22V | 20/04/2006 | 1 | Adult | Topliss, Neil | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001OI72F |
| Edgecote Drive,Newhall,Swadlincote | SK22V | 01/04/2005 | 1 | Adult | Topliss, Neil | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001OJ8D8 |
| Foremark Resr, Ticknall | SK32H | 25/03/2005 | 1 | Adult | A. Davison;N. Topliss;W. Soar | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001OJ8C8 |
| Main St,Kings Newton,Melbourne | SK32Y | 18/04/2003 | 2 | Adult | Soar, Will | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001OHOU4 |
| Main St,Kings Newton,Melbourne | SK32Y | 07/04/2003 | 1 | Adult | Soar, Will | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001OJ31O |
| Main St,Kings Newton,Melbourne | SK32Y | 04/04/2003 | 1 | Adult | VC57 Derbyshire Recorder | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001OJ30Y |
| The Field,Shipley,Ilkeston | SK44M | 11/04/1995 | 1 | Adult | T. Duro | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001OI26W |
| Skinner St, Creswell, Worksop | SK57H | 17/04/1988 | 1 | Adult | VC57 Derbyshire Recorder | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001OIE3D |
| Carvers Rocks NR, Hartshorne, Swadlincote (site not precise) | SK32G | 10/04/1981 | 2 | Adult | D.A. Young | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001OHHB1 |
| Crich Chase, Ambergate (site not precise) | SK35L | 30/05/1980 | 20 | Larvae | VC57 Derbyshire Recorder | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001OIM95 |
| Newbold Drive, Chesterfield | SK37R | 10/04/1964 | 1 | Adult | VC57 Derbyshire Recorder | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001OHVWI |
| Newbold Rd, Chesterfield | SK37R | 03/04/1963 | 1 | Adult | VC57 Derbyshire Recorder | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001OHVUQ |