72.081 BF2455 – Dark Crimson Underwing – Catocala sponsa – (Linnaeus, 1767)
Adult Macro: CAT 2 – Can be confused with other species – Good photographs may be required – 
– click for Adult Macro Verification Guidelines
– click for Adult Macro Verification Guidelines
– Significant Record / Very Rare / Vagrant 
– Red-listed
– care required in the identification process, as confusion with similar species is likely – quality photographs required. Confusion Species: Light Crimson Underwing; Red Underwing; Rosy Underwing
ID pointers: As the name suggests the hind-wing is a bright crimson that is crossed by a black thinnish wavy cross-band and a black border to the edge of the hind-wing. The upper forewings are dark and subtly marked with an intricate mottling of browns, greys and tawny spots and markings. There are, in each forewing, an obvious set of three whitish markings, which seem obvious. The shape of the black band on the hind-wing is characteristic. The wavy black stripe across the crimson hindwing is contorted into a deep W-shape. This is clearly shown in the first and second images.
Distribution: (First record: 11 August 2023 at Shirland ) – (Last record: 11 July 2025 at Chaddesden ) – A new species for Derbyshire. A single specimen trapped at Shirland overnight, on 10th August 2023. Another amazing record for the county, as it only occurs as a breeding species in the New Forest, and otherwise is only occasionally recorded as a rare migrant. Classed as a Red Data Book category RDB3. – The second county record was recorded from Chaddesden on 11th July 2025.
General Comment: None *** Last updated on 18 April 2026 by TD ***
Forewing: 29-34mm
Last Recorded Year: 2025
First Recorded Year: 2023
Last Recorded By – Martin Roome
Last Recorded General Area – Chaddesden
Selected Images: Images kindly provided by Nikki Mahadevan © – Shirland – August 11th 2023. / 2nd record 11th July 2025 – Chaddesden – Martin Roome©
Image Gallery
Temporal Distribution Chart
Adults: (between 2023 - 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 Catocala sponsa
Found 2 records
↳ from 2026+
↳ 2 from 2020 - 2025
↳ from Before 2020
↳ from 2026+
↳ 2 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 – Catocala sponsa
⚠️ 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:
Catocala sponsa
( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )
Monthly Counts By Year:
Catocala sponsa
( data is based on 'Adult' stage records only )
First/Last Recorded Dates: Catocala sponsa
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: Catocala sponsa
( All data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )
Annual Growth Rate (AGR): Catocala sponsa
AGR: 0% | Total % Change: 0%
Hectad (10kmx10km) Coverage: Catocala sponsa
( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )
Flight Periods – Indicative –vs– Recorded Data
Catocala sponsa
Catocala sponsa
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 - Catocala sponsa – 2 records available
Listed by Year - descending - scroll across to see all table columns
| Site Name | Tetrad | Date | Count | Stage | Recorder | Source | RecordKey |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chaddesden, Derby | SK33T | 13/07/2025 | 1 | adult | roome, martin | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC44184160 |
| Shirland - Hallfieldgate Lane | SK35Z | 10/08/2023 | 1 | Adult | Mahadevan, Nikki | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC34435467 |