– click for General Verification Guidelines | – click for Specific Verification Guidelines 
– Rare / Uncommon / Scarce 
– Leaf Miner
– easy to identify, generally distinctive and unlikely to be confused with other species.ID pointers: Small and all white making it quite easy to identify.
Distribution: (Last record: 9 June 2021 at Hathersage ) – Likely this species is uncommon and under recorded – 33 records 1996 – 2014; (Danes) Hathersage 2021 & 7 records 2018 – 2024 ; (iRecord) 9/7/2024 – Ashford Marble Mill (DMFG)
General Comment: None Mine Period Additional: Autumn to May – The mine fills the leaf width and appears as a white narrow mine from the tip of the leaf downwards.
Mine ID Difficulty: Not Recorded
Mine Type/s: Not Recorded
Mine Feeding Method/s: Not Recorded
Mine Comment: None.
*** Last updated on 2 October 2025 by RP ***
Last Recorded Year: 2021
Last Recorded By – The late Claire Miles
Last Recorded General Area – Hathersage
Selected Images: Kings Newton, Derbyshire – Tony Davison©
Image Gallery
Distribution Map for Elachista argentella
Found 68 records
↳ 10 from After 2025
↳ 11 from 2020 - 2024
↳ 47 from Before 2020
↳ 10 from After 2025
↳ 11 from 2020 - 2024
↳ 47 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 – Elachista argentella
⚠️ 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:
Elachista argentella
( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )
Monthly Counts By Year: Elachista argentella
( data is based on 'Adult' stage records only. )
First/Last Recorded Dates: Elachista argentella
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: Elachista argentella
( All data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )
Annual Growth Rate (AGR): Elachista argentella
AGR: 0.87% | Total % Change: 20%
CUSUM Analysis: Elachista argentella
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 8 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 9 (September) 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 2014, 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: Elachista argentella
( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )
Flight Periods – Indicative –vs– Recorded Data
Elachista argentella
Elachista argentella
( 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.
Mine Periods – Indicative –vs– Recorded Data
Elachista argentella
Elachista argentella
( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )
Mine 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 mine periods [month/s]. The coloured lines represent the actual months seen mining, from site observation records received between 2020-2025.
Records Behind the Map and Charts - Elachista argentella – 68 records available
Listed by Year - descending - scroll across to see all table columns
| Site Name | Tetrad | Date | Count | Stage | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gang Mine, Cromford | SK25X | 23/06/2025 | 1 | adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| Gang Mine, Cromford | SK25X | 19/06/2025 | 1 | adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| Ladycroft Ave, Buxton | SK07S | 15/06/2025 | 1 | adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| Chee Dale: Station Quarry | SK17G | 17/05/2025 | 1 | adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| CheeDale Quarry Reserve | SK17G | 17/05/2025 | 1 | adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| Markham Vale Derbyshire | SK47K | 11/05/2025 | 1 | adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| Jim Mart Nature Reserve | SK36S | 10/05/2025 | 1 | adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| rose end meadows | SK25Y | 10/05/2025 | 1 | adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| Markham Vale South Tip | SK47K | 10/05/2025 | 3 | adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| Markham Vale South Tip | SK47K | 09/05/2025 | 1 | adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| Ladycroft Ave, Buxton | SK07S | 19/07/2024 | 1 | adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| Ashford Marble Mill | SK16Z | 09/07/2024 | 1 | adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| Tansley Dale, Litton, Derbyshire | SK17S | 30/05/2023 | 1 | adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| Ladycroft Ave | SK07S | 19/07/2022 | 1 | adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| Ladycroft Ave | SK07S | 08/07/2022 | 1 | adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| Buxton SK, UK | SK07S | 21/06/2022 | 1 | Adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| Orchid Wood | SK43L | 08/05/2022 | 1 | adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| Orchid Wood | SK43L | 08/05/2022 | 1 | adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| Birch Vale | SK08I | 21/07/2021 | 1 | Adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| Hathersage, Derbyshire, UK | SK28F | 09/06/2021 | 1 | adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| Ladycroft Ave, Buxton | SK07S | 15/06/2020 | 1 | adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| Hathersage, Derbyshire, UK | SK28F | 07/07/2019 | 1 | adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| Hathersage, Derbyshire, UK | SK28F | 25/06/2019 | 1 | adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| Birch Vale | SK08I | 10/06/2018 | 1 | adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| Main Street, Kings Newton | SK32Y | 31/05/2017 | 1 | Adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| Ladycroft Ave | SK07S | 13/06/2014 | 2 | adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| Ladycroft Ave | SK07S | 09/06/2014 | 1 | adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| Ladycroft Ave | SK07S | 06/06/2014 | 3 | adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| Millennium Meadow NR, Duffield | SK34L | 05/06/2014 | 1 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Backgarden Marehay | SK34Z | 01/06/2014 | 1 | adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| Ladycroft Ave | SK07S | 19/07/2013 | 1 | adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| Backgarden Marehay | SK34Z | 06/07/2013 | 1 | adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| Backgarden Marehay | SK34Z | 30/06/2013 | 2 | adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| Ladycroft Ave,Buxton | SK07S | 27/06/2012 | 1 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Ladycroft Ave,Buxton | SK07S | 01/06/2012 | 1 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Longstone Edge,Great Longstone | SK17W | 10/06/2011 | 1 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Ladycroft Ave,Buxton | SK07S | 07/06/2011 | 1 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Buxton SK, UK | SK07S | 04/06/2011 | 1 | Adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| Ladycroft Ave,Buxton | SK07S | 03/06/2011 | 1 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Backgarden Marehay | SK34Z | 02/06/2011 | 1 | adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| Bamford St,Ripley | SK34Z | 02/06/2011 | 1 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Ladycroft Ave,Buxton | SK07S | 17/05/2011 | 1 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Backgarden Marehay | SK34Z | 09/05/2011 | 1 | adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| Bamford St,Ripley | SK34Z | 09/05/2011 | 1 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Dovedale | SK15K | 30/07/2010 | 1 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Dovedale | SK15K | 30/07/2010 | 1 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Dovedale | SK15K | 30/07/2010 | 1 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Dovedale | SK15K | 25/07/2010 | 1 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Dovedale | SK15K | 25/07/2010 | 1 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Dovedale | SK15K | 25/07/2010 | 2 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Dovedale | SK15K | 25/07/2010 | 1 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Biggin Dale, nr Hartington | SK15P | 06/07/2010 | 1 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Biggin Dale, nr Hartington | SK15P | 12/06/2010 | 2 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Biggin Dale, nr Hartington | SK15P | 12/06/2010 | 1 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Biggin Dale, nr Hartington | SK15P | 12/06/2010 | 1 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Biggin Dale, nr Hartington | SK15P | 12/06/2010 | 1 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Biggin Dale, nr Hartington | SK15P | 12/06/2010 | 1 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Dovedale | SK15K | 07/06/2010 | 1 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Dovedale | SK15K | 07/06/2010 | 2 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Dovedale | SK15K | 05/07/2009 | 1 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Foremark Resr, Ticknall | SK32H | 30/05/2006 | 1 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Main Street, Kings Newton | SK32Y | 13/07/2005 | 1 | Adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| Main St,Kings Newton,Melbourne | SK32Y | 13/07/2005 | 1 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Church St,Holloway,Matlock | SK35I | 17/06/2005 | 1 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Carvers Rocks (new plantation),Hartshorne,Swadlincote | SK32G | 31/05/2004 | 1 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Newhall (Nadins field area),Swadlincote | SK22Q | 16/05/2004 | 1 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Borrowash (Canal), Borrowash, Derby | SK43C | 19/07/1996 | 1 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Millers Dale (west of Litton Mill) | SK17L | 06/07/1996 | 1 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |