73.217 BF2319 – Lunar-spotted Pinion – Cosmia pyralina – ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775)
Adult Macro: CAT 2 – Can be confused with other species – Good photographs maybe 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: Lesser-spotted Pinion
ID pointers: The moth gets its name from a small half-moon shaped marking near the tip of the forewing. Rests with wings arched and curled over body. The ground colour is a rich brownish rosy pink. A whitish post median cross-line that has a deep V pointing towards the wing tip. There is also a small dark spot at the wing tip.
Distribution: (Last record: 13 July 2025 at Chaddesden ) – A resident that is rare, uncommon and only locally distributed in Derbyshire. In 1986 reported as no longer present in the county. First recorded again in 2002. Current status unsure. This specimen was trapped in 2004 and seems singles are caught each year. Not recorded since 2020.
General Comment: None *** Last updated on 13 January 2026 by TD ***
Forewing: 13-16mm
Last Recorded Year: 2025
Last Recorded By – Neil Loverock
Last Recorded General Area – Chaddesden
Selected Images: Kings Newton, Derbyshire – Tony Davison© / Chaddesden (2025) Neil Loverock©
Image Gallery
Temporal Distribution Chart
Adults: (between 1996 - 2025)
(click legend below to show/hide datasets)
Distribution Map for Cosmia pyralina
Found 14 records
↳ from 2026+
↳ 2 from 2020 - 2025
↳ 12 from Before 2020
↳ from 2026+
↳ 2 from 2020 - 2025
↳ 12 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 – Cosmia pyralina
⚠️ 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:
Cosmia pyralina
( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )
Monthly Counts By Year:
Cosmia pyralina
( data is based on 'Adult' stage records only )
First/Last Recorded Dates: Cosmia pyralina
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: Cosmia pyralina
( All data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )
Annual Growth Rate (AGR): Cosmia pyralina
AGR: 0% | Total % Change: 0%
Hectad (10kmx10km) Coverage: Cosmia pyralina
( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )
Flight Periods – Indicative –vs– Recorded Data
Cosmia pyralina
Cosmia pyralina
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 - Cosmia pyralina – 14 records available
Listed by Year - descending - scroll across to see all table columns
| Site Name | Tetrad | Date | Count | Stage | Recorder | Source | RecordKey |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chaddesden Garden | SK33T | 13/07/2025 | 1 | adult | loverock, neil | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC43373881 |
| Findern, Derbyshire, DEAZ | SK33A | 26/06/2020 | 1 | adult | Brian and Jean Hallam | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC35163043 |
| Main Street, Kings Newton | SK32Y | 13/07/2005 | 1 | Adult | Soar, Will | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC34677086 |
| Main St,Kings Newton,Melbourne | SK32Y | 13/07/2005 | 1 | Adult | Soar, Will | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001OHRQV |
| Main Street, Kings Newton | SK32Y | 01/08/2004 | 1 | Adult | Soar, Will | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC34677085 |
| Main St,Kings Newton,Melbourne | SK32Y | 01/08/2004 | 1 | Adult | Soar, Will | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001OJ7B1 |
| Main Street, Kings Newton | SK32Y | 27/07/2004 | 1 | Adult | Soar, Will | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC34677084 |
| Main St,Kings Newton,Melbourne | SK32Y | 27/07/2004 | 1 | Adult | Soar, Will | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001OJ70O |
| Main Street, Kings Newton | SK32Y | 18/07/2003 | 1 | Adult | Soar, Will | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC34677083 |
| Main St,Kings Newton,Melbourne | SK32Y | 18/07/2003 | 1 | Adult | VC57 Derbyshire Recorder | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001OJ3WJ |
| Kings Newton Fields | SK32Y | 11/07/2003 | 1 | Adult | Soar, Will | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC34677082 |
| Main St,Kings Newton,Melbourne | SK32Y | 08/07/2003 | 1 | Adult | Soar, Will | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001OI4L0 |
| Stevens Rd, Sandiacre | SK43T | 27/08/1996 | 3 | Adult | VC57 Derbyshire Recorder | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001OI2TU |
| Stevens Rd, Sandiacre | SK43T | 18/08/1996 | 2 | Adult | VC57 Derbyshire Recorder | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001OHNEL |