35.151 BF770  – Spotted Birch Grey – Carpatolechia proximella – (Hübner, 1796) Adult Micro:  CAT 2 – Can be confused with other species –       Leaf-miner:  CAT A – Recorded accepted without the leaf or a photo –       Larval Case:  C1 – Distinctive Species –       PDF Icon – click for General Verification Guidelines  |   PDF Icon – click for Specific Verification Guidelines
Black – Uncertain/Unknown – Insufficient Data   
Taxonomy:   Micro   >>  Gelechiidae  >> Gellechiinae
Other Name/s: Black-speckled Groundling
ID Difficulty:  amber  – care required in the identification process, as confusion with similar species is likely – quality photographs required.
Confusion Species:  Carpatolechia alburnella
ID pointers: Variable in appearance ranging from Brownish to Greyish forms. Speckled black and grey. Several pairs of black blotches or spots on the forewing
Distribution:  (Last record: 25 April 2025 at Glossop )  –  The status in Derbyshire remains uncertain due to very few records of this species. It is probably under recorded and may well be common and widespread.
General Comment: None
Flight Period: May /  June –  On the wing in May & June Moth Activity: Nocturnal   – and is attracted to light Photographed: Yes –  Photographed By: Steve Thorpe; Christian Heintzen  © All Rights Reserved
*** Last updated on 7 November 2025 by RP ***
Wingspan: 13-16mm
Food Plant: Birch and Alder
Last Recorded Year: 2025
Last Recorded By – Christian Heintzen
Last Recorded General Area – Glossop

Selected Images:  

Breaston 2024 – Steve Thorpe© ; Wildboar Clough (2024) Christian Heintzen©; Glossop (2025) Christian Heintzen©



Distribution Map for Carpatolechia proximella

Found 8 records
    ↳ from 2026+
    ↳ 7 from 2020 - 2025
    ↳ 1 from Before 2020
Flying
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

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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 – Carpatolechia proximella

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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.

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Monthly Records By Year: Carpatolechia proximella
( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )

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


First/Last Recorded Dates: Carpatolechia proximella
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: Carpatolechia proximella
( All data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )
Annual Growth Rate (AGR): Carpatolechia proximella
AGR: 50%   |   Total % Change: 50%

Hectad (10kmx10km) Coverage: Carpatolechia proximella
( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )

Flight Periods – Indicative –vs– Recorded Data
Carpatolechia proximella

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 - Carpatolechia proximella – 8 records available

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

Site NameTetradDateCountStageSource
Longdendale, Wildboar Clough WoodlandSK09U20/05/20251adultvc57_irecords_extract
Markham Vale DerbyshireSK47K11/05/20252adultvc57_irecords_extract
Cromford MoorSK25X01/05/20251adultvc57_irecords_extract
Derbyshire Wild Life Trust Long CloughSK09G24/04/20252adultvc57_irecords_extract
Derbyshire Wild Life Trust Long CloughSK09G31/05/20241adultvc57_irecords_extract
Longdendale, Wildboar CloughSK09U30/05/20241adultvc57_irecords_extract
High Leas Farm, RiberSK35D25/05/20241adultvc57_irecords_extract
Hell Bank Plantation (site not precise)SK26Z18/06/19941Adultvc57_danes_bc_data

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