45.012 BF1509 – Brown Plume – Stenoptilia pterodactyla – (Linnaeus,1761)
Adult Micro: CAT 2 – Can be confused with other species –
– click for General Verification Guidelines | – click for Specific Verification Guidelines
– click for General Verification Guidelines | – click for Specific Verification Guidelines 
– Rare / Uncommon / Scarce
– care required in the identification process, as confusion with similar species is likely – quality photographs required. Confusion Species: Stenoptilia bipunctidactyla
ID pointers: Forewing is twisted and a warm reddish brown to yellowish brown in colour. Two small dark spots in the twist towards the wing tips.
Distribution: (Last record: 19 July 2024 at Cromford ) – The few scattered and localised areas where reported, would indicate it is uncommon
General Comment: None *** Last updated on 2 October 2025 by RP ***
Last Recorded Year: 2024
Last Recorded By – Clive Ashton
Last Recorded General Area – Cromford
Selected Images: Kings Newton, Derbyshire – Tony Davison©
Image Gallery
Temporal Distribution Chart
Adults: (between 1998 - 2025)
(click legend below to show/hide datasets)
Distribution Map for Stenoptilia pterodactyla
Found 31 records
↳ from 2026+
↳ 18 from 2020 - 2025
↳ 13 from Before 2020
↳ from 2026+
↳ 18 from 2020 - 2025
↳ 13 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 – Stenoptilia pterodactyla
⚠️ 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:
Stenoptilia pterodactyla
( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )
Monthly Counts By Year:
Stenoptilia pterodactyla
( data is based on 'Adult' stage records only )
First/Last Recorded Dates: Stenoptilia pterodactyla
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: Stenoptilia pterodactyla
( All data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )
Annual Growth Rate (AGR): Stenoptilia pterodactyla
AGR: -1.43% | Total % Change: -25%
Hectad (10kmx10km) Coverage: Stenoptilia pterodactyla
( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )
Flight Periods – Indicative –vs– Recorded Data
Stenoptilia pterodactyla
Stenoptilia pterodactyla
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 - Stenoptilia pterodactyla – 31 records available
Listed by Year - descending - scroll across to see all table columns
| Site Name | Tetrad | Date | Count | Stage | Recorder | Source | RecordKey |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Findern, Derbyshire | SK33A | 23/07/2025 | 1 | adult | Hallam, Brian | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC43786164 |
| upper cromford garden | SK25Y | 22/07/2025 | 1 | adult | Ashton, Clive | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC43736822 |
| upper cromford garden | SK25Y | 11/07/2025 | 1 | adult | Ashton, Clive | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC43358975 |
| Old Marble Mill, Ashford in the Water | SK16Z | 01/07/2025 | 1 | adult | Steven Bell | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC42908361 |
| Darley Bridge | SK26Q | 28/06/2025 | 1 | Adult | Moores, Stephen | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC43947985 |
| Glossop, Gnat Hole Rough Fields | SK09L | 24/06/2025 | 1 | adult | Heintzen, Christian | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC43979621 |
| Gang Mine, Cromford | SK25X | 23/06/2025 | 1 | adult | Ashton, Clive | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC42573631 |
| Darley Bridge | SK26Q | 27/07/2024 | 1 | Adult | Moores, Stephen | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC38741802 |
| upper cromford garden | SK25Y | 19/07/2024 | 2 | adult | Ashton, Clive | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC37194131 |
| upper cromford garden | SK25Y | 18/07/2024 | 2 | adult | Ashton, Clive | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC37193696 |
| upper cromford garden | SK25Y | 17/07/2024 | 1 | adult | Ashton, Clive | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC37141640 |
| upper cromford garden | SK25Y | 04/07/2024 | 1 | adult | Ashton, Clive | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC36845490 |
| Holloway, Matlock | SK35I | 30/06/2024 | 1 | adult | Pritchard, Alison | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC36757002 |
| Findern Garden | SK33A | 21/06/2023 | 1 | Adult | Hallam, Brian | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC34637365 |
| Findern, Derbyshire, DEAZ | SK33A | 01/08/2022 | 1 | adult | Brian and Jean Hallam | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC35167383 |
| Derbyshire, England, United Kingdom | SK07S | 28/07/2022 | 1 | Adult | Orridge, Steve | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC28773920 |
| Findern, Derbyshire, DEAZ | SK33A | 19/07/2021 | 1 | adult | Brian and Jean Hallam | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC35165388 |
| Findern, Derbyshire, DEAZ | SK33A | 11/08/2020 | 1 | adult | Brian and Jean Hallam | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC35163699 |
| Ashford In the Water (Marble Mill) | SK16Z | 02/08/2019 | 1 | adult | BELL, Mr S. | Danes_2019-2021 | 1154 |
| Hathersage, Derbyshire, UK | SK28F | 29/07/2019 | 1 | adult | Miles, Claire | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC12282865 |
| Findern, Derbyshire, DEAZ | SK33A | 24/06/2019 | 1 | adult | Brian and Jean Hallam | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC35161301 |
| Sudbury Hall | SK13L | 24/06/2017 | 1 | adult | Skingsley, Dave | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC18710129 |
| Main Street, Kings Newton | SK32Y | 18/07/2016 | 1 | Adult | Soar, Will | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC34060185 |
| Main St, King's Newton, Melbourne | SK32Y | 18/07/2016 | 1 | Adult | VC57 Derbyshire Recorder | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001CP9OY |
| Main Street, Kings Newton | SK32Y | 16/07/2016 | 1 | Adult | Soar, Will | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC34060186 |
| Ladycroft Ave,Buxton | SK07S | 17/07/2012 | 1 | Adult | Orridge, Steve | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001CP80Z |
| Buxton (Cote Heath Allotments - plot ) | SK07R | 26/07/2011 | 1 | Adult | S. Bell | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001CP7BT |
| Church St,Holloway,Matlock | SK35I | 16/07/2005 | 1 | Adult | F. Harrison | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001CORLP |
| Church St,Holloway,Matlock | SK35I | 13/07/2005 | 1 | Adult | F. Harrison | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001CP2P5 |
| Beeley Moor, Beeley | SK26Y | 10/06/2005 | 2 | Adult | B.L. Statham | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001CORHR |
| Ivy Cottage, Youlgreave | SK26C | 26/07/1998 | 1 | Adult | Julian Clarke | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001COQYY |