73.059 BF2223 – Toadflax Brocade – Calophasia lunula – (Hufnagel, 1766)
Adult Macro: CAT 1 – Distinctive species unlikely to be confused with others –
– click for Adult Macro Verification Guidelines
– click for Adult Macro Verification Guidelines
– Rare / Uncommon / Scarce
– easy to identify, generally distinctive and unlikely to be confused with other species.ID pointers: Fairly unmistakable. Has three white central marks on upper wing which is marbled with shades of brown and grey. Has banded fringes and black basal streaks.
Distribution: (First record: 7 August 2015 at Sawley, Long Eaton ) – (Last record: 11 June 2025 at Belper ) – First record for the VC57 was in 2015. A recent colonist that is generally uncommon with few, but gradually increasing records, mainly from the south of the county. By 2024 the species is regularly breeding in gardens that contain Purple Toadflax, especially in the Sandiacre, Breaston and Long Eaton areas of South Derbyshire. These locations seem to be it’s current stronghold.
General Comment: None *** Last updated on 2 October 2025 by RP ***
Forewing: 14-15mm
Last Recorded Year: 2025
First Recorded Year: 2015
Last Recorded By – Dave Evans
Last Recorded General Area – Belper
Selected Images: Courtesy of Steve Thorpe © – Breaston, Derbyshire / Emily Milnes © – Sandiacre 2004/ Bleper (2025) Dave Evans©
Image Gallery
Temporal Distribution Chart
Adults: (between 2020 - 2025) | Immatures: (between 2022 - 2025)
(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 Calophasia lunula
Found 56 records
↳ from 2026+
↳ 56 from 2020 - 2025
↳ from Before 2020
↳ from 2026+
↳ 56 from 2020 - 2025
↳ 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 – Calophasia lunula
⚠️ 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:
Calophasia lunula
( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )
Monthly Counts By Year:
Calophasia lunula
( data is based on 'Adult' stage records only )
First/Last Recorded Dates: Calophasia lunula
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: Calophasia lunula
( All data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )
Annual Growth Rate (AGR): Calophasia lunula
AGR: 1.09% | Total % Change: 5.6%
Hectad (10kmx10km) Coverage: Calophasia lunula
( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )
Flight Periods – Indicative –vs– Recorded Data
Calophasia lunula
Calophasia lunula
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 - Calophasia lunula – 56 records available
Listed by Year - descending - scroll across to see all table columns
| Site Name | Tetrad | Date | Count | Stage | Recorder | Source | RecordKey |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allestree, Derby | SK33P | 29/08/2025 | 1 | adult | Plant, Stephen | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC44898243 |
| Chaddesden, Derby | SK33T | 25/08/2025 | 1 | adult | roome, martin | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC44886489 |
| Oakwood, Derby, Derby | SK33Y | 20/08/2025 | 1 | larva | Nick Charles | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC44638167 |
| Derby DE | SK33I | 15/08/2025 | 1 | adult | Watson, Adrian | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC44536267 |
| Allestree, Derby | SK33P | 14/08/2025 | 1 | adult | Plant, Stephen | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC44548330 |
| NGLong Eaton | SK43R | 31/07/2025 | 1 | adult | Braddock, Archie | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC50384090 |
| Chaddesden, Derby | SK33T | 16/07/2025 | 1 | adult | roome, martin | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC44184610 |
| Sandiacre Garden | SK43T | 13/07/2025 | 1 | adult | Milnes, Emily | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC51127576 |
| Allestree, Derby | SK33P | 04/07/2025 | 1 | adult | Plant, Stephen | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC42978401 |
| NGLong Eaton | SK43R | 02/07/2025 | 1 | adult | Braddock, Archie | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC50383971 |
| Ilkeston, Derbyshire | SK44Q | 20/06/2025 | 6 | larva | Sian Urquhart-Aldred | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC42482001 |
| Belper | SK34N | 11/06/2025 | 1 | adult | Evans, Dave | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC42267852 |
| Long Eaton, Nottingham NGFZ, UK | SK53B | 09/06/2025 | 1 | adult | cwigs97 | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC42191060 |
| Chaddesden, Derby | SK33T | 27/05/2025 | 1 | adult | roome, martin | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC42702443 |
| Ingleby Ave, Derby | SK33L | 19/05/2025 | 1 | adult | Shervill, Andrew | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC41710532 |
| Woodland Ave | SK43R | 16/05/2025 | 2 | adult | Thorpe, Steve | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC48390643 |
| Allestree, Derby | SK33P | 10/05/2025 | 1 | adult | Plant, Stephen | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC41484687 |
| Sandiacre Garden | SK43T | 30/04/2025 | 1 | adult | Milnes, Emily | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC44473492 |
| NG Long Eaton | SK43R | 27/04/2025 | 1 | adult | Braddock Archie | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC48508645 |
| NGLong Eaton | SK43R | 27/04/2025 | 1 | adult | Braddock, Archie | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC50376154 |
| NGLT | SK43S | 22/08/2024 | 1 | adult | Butler, Anne | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC38051686 |
| Woodland Ave | SK43R | 02/08/2024 | 1 | adult | Thorpe, Steve | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC40045135 |
| Chaddesden, Derby | SK33T | 28/07/2024 | 1 | adult | roome, martin | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC38327714 |
| Sandiacre Garden | SK43T | 21/07/2024 | 1 | larva | Milnes, Emily | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC40192336 |
| Sandiacre Garden | SK43T | 18/07/2024 | 1 | adult | Milnes, Emily | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC39285195 |
| Sandiacre | SK43S | 28/06/2024 | 2 | adult | paul buxton | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC36986180 |
| Findern, Derbyshire, DEAZ | SK33A | 20/06/2024 | 1 | adult | Hallam, Brian | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC39934346 |
| Chaddesden, Derby | SK33T | 12/06/2024 | 1 | adult | roome, martin | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC36719633 |
| Chaddesden, Derby | SK33T | 12/06/2024 | 1 | adult | roome, martin | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC36721432 |
| Sandiacre Garden | SK43T | 04/06/2024 | 1 | adult | Milnes, Emily | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC39165536 |
| Woodland Ave | SK43R | 17/05/2024 | 1 | adult | Thorpe, Steve | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC40044475 |
| Woodland Ave | SK43R | 09/05/2024 | 1 | adult | Thorpe, Steve | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC40044422 |
| Sandiacre | SK43T | 08/09/2023 | 3 | larva | Milnes, Emily | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC34667646 |
| Sandiacre | SK43T | 11/08/2023 | 1 | adult | Milnes, Emily | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC34529074 |
| Woodland Ave | SK43R | 07/07/2023 | 1 | adult | Thorpe, Steve | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC33496733 |
| Woodland Ave | SK43R | 23/06/2023 | 1 | adult | Thorpe, Steve | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC33496562 |
| Wensleydale Road, Long Eaton | SK43R | 17/06/2023 | 2 | adult | Bryce, Marion | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC30940160 |
| Ilkeston | SK44Q | 18/09/2022 | 2 | larva | Urquhart-Hughes, Sian | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC28128162 |
| Sandiacre | SK43T | 11/06/2022 | 1 | adult | Milnes, Emily | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC31220324 |
| Sandiacre | SK43T | 10/06/2022 | 1 | adult | Milnes, Emily | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC35176415 |
| Woodland Ave | SK43R | 13/05/2022 | 1 | Adult | Thorpe, Steve | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC27845588 |
| Briar Close, Newhall, Swadlincote | SK22V | 02/07/2021 | 1 | adult | PEACH, Mr K. | Danes_2019-2021 | 189 |
| Woodland Ave | SK43R | 15/06/2021 | 1 | adult | Thorpe, Steve | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC33498445 |
| Woodland Ave | SK43R | 31/05/2021 | 2 | adult | Thorpe, Steve | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC33498199 |
| Elgar Drive, Sawley, Long Eaton | SK43R | 31/05/2021 | 1 | adult | BRADDOCK, Mr A. | Danes_2019-2021 | 223 |
| Woodland Ave | SK43R | 28/05/2021 | 1 | adult | Thorpe, Steve | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC33498171 |
| Woodland Ave | SK43R | 09/08/2020 | 1 | adult | Thorpe, Steve | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC33502042 |
| Woodland Ave | SK43R | 01/08/2020 | 1 | adult | Thorpe, Steve | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC33501904 |
| Woodland Ave | SK43R | 29/07/2020 | 1 | adult | Thorpe, Steve | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC33501791 |
| Woodland Ave | SK43R | 17/07/2020 | 1 | adult | Thorpe, Steve | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC33501606 |
| Woodland Ave | SK43R | 02/06/2020 | 1 | adult | Thorpe, Steve | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC33500927 |
| Woodland Ave | SK43R | 30/05/2020 | 1 | adult | Thorpe, Steve | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC33500816 |
| Woodland Ave | SK43R | 28/05/2020 | 1 | adult | Thorpe, Steve | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC33500768 |
| Marlborough Road, Long Eaton, Derbys | SK43X | 20/05/2020 | 1 | adult | Bryce, Marion | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC13645163 |
| Woodland Ave | SK43R | 15/05/2020 | 1 | adult | Thorpe, Steve | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC33500639 |
| Elgar Drive, Sawley, Long Eaton | SK43R | 09/05/2020 | 1 | adult | BRADDOCK, Mr A. | Danes_2019-2021 | 793 |