The Shark       Mullein
73.053 BF2214  – Chamomile Shark – Cucullia chamomillae – ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775) Adult Macro:  CAT 2 – Can be confused with other species – Good photographs maybe required – Can be confused with other species       PDF Icon – click for Adult Macro Verification Guidelines
Green –  Rare / Uncommon / Scarce   
Taxonomy:   Macro  >>.  >>  Noctuidae  >> Cucullinae
ID Difficulty:  amber  – care required in the identification process, as confusion with similar species is likely – quality photographs required.
Confusion Species:  Shark
ID pointers: Like other members of the Shark family, it rests with wings closed against the body and has a distinctive “Punk-Like” hair-cut above the head. Looks very much like a sharks dorsal fin, hence the name “Shark”. The ground colour is a grey-brown with many dark and pale veins running towards the trailing edge of the wing, extending into the wing fringes.
Distribution:  (Last record: 27 March 2023 at Belper )  –  A resident that is generally uncommon but widely distributed in Derbyshire. Only recorded in small numbers each year and usually from the southern lowland areas of the county.
General Comment: None Flight Period: April /  May /  June –  On the wing April – June Moth Activity: Nocturnal  Photographed: Yes –  Photographed By: Tony Davison  © All Rights Reserved
*** Last updated on 2 October 2025 by RP ***
Wingspan: 40-42mm
Forewing: 19-23mm Food Plant: Chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile).
Last Recorded Year: 2023
Last Recorded By – Dave Evans
Last Recorded General Area – Belper
Selected Images:  Melbourne, Derbyshire – Tony Davison ©

Chamomile Shark - Noctuidae - Cucullia chamomillae
Chamomile Shark – Noctuidae – Cucullia chamomillae
Chamomile Shark – Noctuidae – Cucullia chamomillae
Chamomile Shark - Noctuidae - Cucullia chamomillae


Image Gallery

Chamomile Shark - Melbourne - Tony Davison© Chamomile Shark - Melbourne - Tony Davison©

Monthly Occurrence For Years Below
Adults: (between 1960 - 2023)  |  Immatures: (between 1966 - 1988)
(click legend below to show/hide datasets)

Distribution Map for Cucullia chamomillae

Found 45 records
    ↳ from 2026+
    ↳ 6 from 2020 - 2025
    ↳ 39 from Before 2020
Flying
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

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 – Cucullia chamomillae

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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.

Visit NBN Site


Monthly Records By Year: Cucullia chamomillae
( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )

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


First/Last Recorded Dates: Cucullia chamomillae
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: Cucullia chamomillae
( All data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )
Annual Growth Rate (AGR): Cucullia chamomillae
AGR: 0%   |   Total % Change: 0%

Hectad (10kmx10km) Coverage: Cucullia chamomillae
( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )

Flight Periods – Indicative –vs– Recorded Data
Cucullia chamomillae

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 - Cucullia chamomillae – 45 records available

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

Site NameTetradDateCountStageRecorderSourceRecordKey
Belper GardenSK34P27/05/20231adultEvans, Davevc57_irecords_extractiBRC34543540
BelperSK34U17/05/20231adultEvans, Davevc57_irecords_extractiBRC35294936
BelperSK34N12/05/20231adultEvans, Davevc57_irecords_extractiBRC35300217
Findern GardenSK33A11/05/20231AdultHallam, Brianvc57_irecords_extractiBRC34637152
BelperSK34N11/05/20231adultEvans, Davevc57_irecords_extractiBRC35299108
Findern, Derbyshire, DEAZSK33A22/10/20221adultBrian and Jean Hallamvc57_irecords_extractiBRC35168102
Ault Hucknall,GlapwellSK46S07/06/20081AdultM.E. Bradleyvc57_danes_bc_dataLC000334001OJK7F
Drayton Ave,Mackworth,DerbySK33D03/04/20081AdultW. Hurstvc57_danes_bc_dataLC000334001OJZI3
Drayton Ave,Mackworth,DerbySK33D03/04/20081AdultW. Hurstvc57_danes_bc_dataLC000334001WPP5P
Bristol Rd,IlkestonSK44R21/05/20071AdultS.L.P. Whiteleyvc57_danes_bc_dataLC000334001OJI8F
Cross Green Cottages,Flint Lane,South DarleySK26Q03/05/20071AdultR. Hawksworthvc57_danes_bc_dataLC000334001OJH8Z
Cross Green Cottages,Flint Lane,South DarleySK26Q13/04/20071AdultR. Hawksworthvc57_danes_bc_dataLC000334001OHUYO
Lowes Hill,RipleySK35V03/05/20061AdultR.A. Wainvc57_danes_bc_dataLC000334001OJBI1
Melbourne, DerbyshireSK32X03/05/20041adultDavison, Tonyvc57_irecords_extractiBRC33100603
Spinney Hill,MelbourneSK32X03/05/20041AdultDavison, Tonyvc57_danes_bc_dataLC000334001OJ52N
Midway Rd,Midway,SwadlincoteSK32A21/04/20041AdultM.J. Williamsvc57_danes_bc_dataLC000334001WP6H2
Stevens Rd, SandiacreSK43T10/06/19961AdultVC57 Derbyshire Recordervc57_danes_bc_dataLC000334001OIZLN
The Field,Shipley,IlkestonSK44M04/05/19951AdultT. Durovc57_danes_bc_dataLC000334001OHMN9
The Field,Shipley,IlkestonSK44M04/05/19951AdultT. Durovc57_danes_bc_dataLC000334001WONFM
Wood Lane,Newhall,SwadlincoteSK22V29/04/19941AdultDave Budworthvc57_danes_bc_dataLC000334001OIXOX
Wood Lane, Newhall, SwadlincoteSK22V29/04/19941AdultDave Budworthvc57_danes_bc_dataLC000334001WQDDK
Wilmot St, Sawley, Long EatonSK43R14/04/19931AdultA. Braddockvc57_danes_bc_dataLC000334001OIWST
Wood Lane,Newhall,SwadlincoteSK22V22/04/19901AdultDave Budworthvc57_danes_bc_dataLC000334001OHKPS
Wood Lane, Newhall, SwadlincoteSK22V22/04/19901AdultDave Budworthvc57_danes_bc_dataLC000334001WQ514
Grassmoor (site not precise)SK46D19/07/19881LarvaeF. Harrisonvc57_danes_bc_dataLC000334001OHK78
Back Lane,GlapwellSK46T01/07/19881AdultJ. Culpinvc57_danes_bc_dataLC000334001OIEBR
Back Lane, GlapwellSK46T01/07/19881AdultJ. Culpinvc57_danes_bc_dataLC000334001WQA7D
Wilmot St, Sawley, Long EatonSK43R09/05/19881AdultA. Braddockvc57_danes_bc_dataLC000334001OIE4O
Pond House, Mapperley Res, IlkestonSK44G16/05/19861AdultT. Durovc57_danes_bc_dataLC000334001OIRUH
Drummond Rd, IlkestonSK44R08/05/19811AdultT. Durovc57_danes_bc_dataLC000334001OINHL
Drummond Rd, IlkestonSK44R26/05/19801AdultT. Durovc57_danes_bc_dataLC000334001OIM8Z
Drummond Rd, IlkestonSK44R12/05/19801AdultT. Durovc57_danes_bc_dataLC000334001OHGR8
Field Close, Hilton, Burton on TrentSK23K08/05/19781AdultVC57 Derbyshire Recordervc57_danes_bc_dataLC000334001OIKZ0
Field Close, Hilton, Burton on TrentSK23K05/05/19771AdultVC57 Derbyshire Recordervc57_danes_bc_dataLC000334001OIK7O
Field Close, Hilton, Burton on TrentSK23K22/04/19771AdultVC57 Derbyshire Recordervc57_danes_bc_dataLC000334001OHFWB
Ashby Rd, MelbourneSK32X24/06/19741AdultVC57 Derbyshire Recordervc57_danes_bc_dataLC000334001OHWLE
Welbeck Rd, BolsoverSK47V29/05/19691AdultVC57 Derbyshire Recordervc57_danes_bc_dataLC000334001OHEMW
Welbeck Rd, BolsoverSK47Q12/05/19691AdultM.E. Bradleyvc57_danes_bc_dataLC000334001OHEM8
The Old Manse, Ault Hucknall, GlapwellSK46S23/05/19681AdultJ.H. Johnsonvc57_danes_bc_dataLC000334001WQ0HB
The Old Manse, Ault Hucknall, GlapwellSK46S18/05/19681AdultJ.H. Johnsonvc57_danes_bc_dataLC000334001WPA9C
Upper Newbold, ChesterfieldSK37L12/07/19661LarvaeVC57 Derbyshire Recordervc57_danes_bc_dataLC000334001OHVZY
Upper Newbold, ChesterfieldSK37L07/07/196615LarvaeVC57 Derbyshire Recordervc57_danes_bc_dataLC000334001OHVZO
Tupton Park, Tupton (site not precise)SK36X14/05/19651AdultVC57 Derbyshire Recordervc57_danes_bc_dataLC000334001OIH96
Newbold Rd, ChesterfieldSK37R01/06/19631AdultVC57 Derbyshire Recordervc57_danes_bc_dataLC000334001OIH2D
Newbold Ave, ChesterfieldSK37R21/05/19601AdultVC57 Derbyshire Recordervc57_danes_bc_dataLC000334001OIGKW

The Shark       Mullein

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