– click for Adult Macro Verification Guidelines
– Significant Record / Very Rare / Vagrant 
– Migrant
– easy to identify, generally distinctive and unlikely to be confused with other species.ID pointers: A variable medium sized moth. Forewing can be shades of dark purplish through to pale sandy-brown. Hind wing has a broad black border. Forewing has a darker brown cross-band near the outer edge and a dark cross-line through the middle of the wing. Some individuals show hardly any obvious markings. Kidney & oval marks have a dark central spot.
Distribution: (First record: 2006 at Melbourne ) – (Last record: 17 August 2025 at Belper ) – A scarce immigrant to Derbyshire. During 2006 an unprecedented number of Scarce Bordered Straw moths arrived in Britain. During this invasion the species was added to the Derbyshire List as a genuine vagrant. The following images were from specimens trapped in my garden. In 2017 two individuals were recorded and a further specimen from Buxton in 2018. A specimen trapped 28th July 2022 at a time of numerous migrant moths in the UK. One trapped at Chaddesden, Derby during September 2023 by Martin Roome. A caterpillar discovered in flowers in Burton-on-Trent in April 2024, emerged as an adult on 10/6/2024. Three individuals recorded in October 2024 and a single on 1st Nov 2024, during a time of high migrant moth activity across the UK. 2025 three records during August 14th from Sheffield, 15th from Wingerwoth and 17th from Belper.
General Comment: There were ten records received during 2025 of this scarce migrant to the VC57 recording area. The second best year since the influx year of 2006 when VC57 recorded 29 records.
*** Last updated on 14 December 2025 by TD ***
Forewing: 16-19mm
Last Recorded Year: 2025
First Recorded Year: 2006
Last Recorded By – Dave Newcombe
Last Recorded General Area – Belper
Selected Images: Melbourne, Derbyshire – Sept & Oct 2006 – Tony Davison© / Buxton, Derbyshire – July 2022 – Rowan Wakefield© Chaddesden Sept2023 – Martin Roome©
Image Gallery
Distribution Map for Helicoverpa armigera
Found 56 records
↳ 10 from 2025+
↳ 9 from 2020 - 2024
↳ 37 from Before 2020
↳ 10 from 2025+
↳ 9 from 2020 - 2024
↳ 37 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 – Helicoverpa armigera
⚠️ 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:
Helicoverpa armigera
( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )
Monthly Counts By Year: Helicoverpa armigera
( data is based on 'Adult' stage records only. )
First/Last Recorded Dates: Helicoverpa armigera
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: Helicoverpa armigera
( All data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )
Annual Growth Rate (AGR): Helicoverpa armigera
AGR: -1.33% | Total % Change: -22.5%
CUSUM Analysis: Helicoverpa armigera
About this chart: CUSUM (Cumulative Sum) charts track long-term trends in moth populations [ filtered by 'Adult' and 'Mine' life stages ] by showing whether each year’s counts are above or below the historical average. Even small shifts build up over time, making trends of growth, stability, or decline easier to see. CUSUM highlights trend-consistency — asking: “Across the years, have moth counts mostly stayed above or below average?”
The data sample has 19 gap year/s here (zero records) between 2000 and 2025. The moth may have been present in those gap years, but no data was available. Too many year-gaps may exaggerate or skew the chart.
Counts for the current year (2025) are pro-rated based on data available up to month 10 (October) to provide a full-year equivalent.
ⓘ
Purple line rises = years better than average; falls = years worse than average.
Peak (best year)
Trough (worst year)
Growth periods
Decline periods
Population peaked around 2006, reaching above average levels. The lowest population point occurred near 2024, showing a significant decline.
What the Y-axis "Cumulative Deviation" means: Cumulative Deviation shows the running total of how each year’s moth population count differs from the long-term average. i
Hectad (10kmx10km) Coverage: Helicoverpa armigera
( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )
Flight Periods – Indicative –vs– Recorded Data
Helicoverpa armigera
Helicoverpa armigera
( 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 2020-2025.
Records Behind the Map and Charts - Helicoverpa armigera – 56 records available
Listed by Year - descending - scroll across to see all table columns
| Site Name | Tetrad | Date | Count | Stage | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mickleover garden | SK33C | 02/10/2025 | 1 | adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| Chellaston, Derby, Derby | SK33V | 19/09/2025 | 1 | adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| upper cromford garden | SK25Y | 18/09/2025 | 1 | adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| Chaddesden, Derby | SK33T | 17/09/2025 | 1 | adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| Mickleover garden | SK33C | 05/09/2025 | 1 | adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| Wingerworth, Derbyshire | SK36Y | 22/08/2025 | 1 | adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| Belper, Derbyshire | SK34N | 17/08/2025 | 1 | adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| sheffield | SK38M | 16/08/2025 | 1 | adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| Wingerworth, Derbyshire | SK36Y | 15/08/2025 | 1 | adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| sheffield | SK38M | 14/08/2025 | 1 | adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| Ilkeston, Derbyshire | SK44K | 01/11/2024 | 1 | adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| Wingerworth, Derbyshire | SK36Y | 29/10/2024 | 1 | adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| Ilkeston, Derbyshire | SK44K | 25/10/2024 | 1 | adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| Allestree, Derby | SK33P | 24/10/2024 | 1 | adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| Burton-on-Trent, Staffordshire | SK22W | 10/06/2024 | 1 | adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| Findern Garden | SK33A | 19/10/2023 | 1 | Adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| Shirland - Hallfieldgate Lane | SK35Z | 07/10/2023 | 1 | Adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| Chaddeden, Derby | SK33T | 24/09/2023 | 1 | adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| Garden, Walton | SK36U | 29/10/2022 | 1 | adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| Derbyshire, UK | SK25I | 29/09/2019 | 1 | Adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| Sheffield, England, United Kingdom | SK38L | 28/08/2017 | 1 | Adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| Spinney Hill,Melbourne | SK32X | 28/10/2006 | 1 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| The Hollies,Station Rd,Darley Dale | SK26R | 17/10/2006 | 1 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| The Hollies,Station Rd,Darley Dale | SK26R | 28/09/2006 | 1 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Briar Close,Newhall,Swadlincote | SK22V | 25/09/2006 | 1 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Ault Hucknall,Glapwell | SK46S | 25/09/2006 | 1 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Briar Close,Newhall,Swadlincote | SK22V | 25/09/2006 | 1 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Far Cross,Cavendish Park,Matlock | SK36A | 24/09/2006 | 1 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Ault Hucknall,Glapwell | SK46S | 23/09/2006 | 2 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Foremark Resr, Ticknall | SK32H | 23/09/2006 | 1 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Main Street, Kings Newton | SK32Y | 21/09/2006 | 1 | Adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| Edgecote Drive,Newhall,Swadlincote | SK22V | 21/09/2006 | 1 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Wood Lane, Newhall, Swadlincote | SK22V | 17/09/2006 | 1 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Midway Rd,Midway,Swadlincote | SK32A | 16/09/2006 | 2 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Melbourne, Derbyshire | SK32X | 15/09/2006 | 2 | adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| Main Street, Kings Newton | SK32Y | 15/09/2006 | 5 | Adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| Edgecote Drive,Newhall,Swadlincote | SK22V | 15/09/2006 | 1 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Midway Rd,Midway,Swadlincote | SK32A | 15/09/2006 | 1 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| The Hollies,Station Rd,Darley Dale | SK26R | 13/09/2006 | 1 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| The Hollies,Station Rd,Darley Dale | SK26R | 05/09/2006 | 2 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Briar Close,Newhall,Swadlincote | SK22V | 05/09/2006 | 1 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| The Hollies,Station Rd,Darley Dale | SK26R | 04/09/2006 | 1 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Lancaster Ave,Sandiacre | SK43S | 04/09/2006 | 1 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Edgecote Drive,Newhall,Swadlincote | SK22V | 03/09/2006 | 1 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Far Cross,Cavendish Park,Matlock | SK36A | 03/09/2006 | 1 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| The Hollies,Station Rd,Darley Dale | SK26R | 03/09/2006 | 1 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Far Cross,Cavendish Park,Matlock | SK36A | 01/09/2006 | 1 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Edgecote Drive,Newhall,Swadlincote | SK22V | 26/08/2006 | 2 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| The Hollies,Station Rd,Darley Dale | SK26R | 24/08/2006 | 1 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Elgar Drive,Sawley,Long Eaton | SK43R | 18/08/2006 | 1 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Far Cross,Cavendish Park,Matlock | SK36A | 03/08/2006 | 1 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Far Cross,Cavendish Park,Matlock | SK36A | 30/07/2006 | 1 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Wood Lane, Newhall, Swadlincote | SK22V | 26/12/2005 | 1 | Larvae | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Ilkeston (Tesco Supermarket) | SK44R | 27/06/2003 | 1 | Larvae | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Wilmot St, Sawley, Long Eaton | SK43R | 04/09/1996 | 1 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Sett Valley Trail, New Mills | SK08D | 07/09/1988 | 1 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |