Marasmarcha lunaedactyla - Crescent Plume - 7/7/2023 - Kirk Hallam - Brian Hobby
45.023 BF1495  – Crescent Plume  – Marasmarcha lunaedactyla  – (Haworth,1811)
Adult Micro:  CAT 1 – Distinctive species unlikely to be confused with others –      
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Green –  Rare / Uncommon / Scarce   
Taxonomy:   Micro   >>  Pterophoridae  >> Pterophorinae
ID Difficulty:  green  – easy to identify, generally distinctive and unlikely to be confused with other species.
ID pointers: Easily identified by the moon-shaped creamy white markings on the wing cleft which is a dark reddish-brown
Distribution:  (First record: 2 July 2001 at Midway )  –  (Last record: 7 July 2023 at Kirk Hallam, Sandiacre )  –  First recorded on 2nd July 2001 from Midway (DaNES) further accounts from Pleasley Colliery CP 19/7/2012 & Clowne 25/7/2012 A further record from Kirk Hallam on 7/7/2023 and one from Sandiacre on same date. Suspect a rare moth but one that seems to be spreading its range and present where the food plant grows.
General Comment: None
Flight Period: June /  July –  Flies from dusk onwards in June – July Moth Activity: Nocturnal   – and is attracted to light Photographed: Yes –  Photographed By: Brian Hobby, Paul Buxton   © All Rights Reserved
*** Last updated on 7 November 2025 by RP ***
Wingspan: 18-22mm
Food Plant: Rest Harrow
Last Recorded Year: 2023
First Recorded Year: 2001
Last Recorded By – Brian Hobby, Paul Buxton
Last Recorded General Area – Kirk Hallam, Sandiacre

Selected Images:  Kirk Hallam – Brian Hobby© / Sandiacre – Paul Buxton©



Temporal Distribution Chart
Adults: (between 2001 - 2023)
(click legend below to show/hide datasets)

Distribution Map for Marasmarcha lunaedactyla

Found 6 records
    ↳ from 2026+
    ↳ 3 from 2020 - 2025
    ↳ 3 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 – Marasmarcha lunaedactyla

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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: Marasmarcha lunaedactyla
( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )

Monthly Counts By Year: Marasmarcha lunaedactyla
( data is based on 'Adult' stage records only )

First/Last Recorded Dates: Marasmarcha lunaedactyla
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: Marasmarcha lunaedactyla
( All data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )
Annual Growth Rate (AGR): Marasmarcha lunaedactyla
AGR: 0%   |   Total % Change: 0%

Hectad (10kmx10km) Coverage: Marasmarcha lunaedactyla
( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )

Flight Periods – Indicative –vs– Recorded Data
Marasmarcha lunaedactyla

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 - Marasmarcha lunaedactyla – 6 records available

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

Site NameTetradDateCountStageRecorderSourceRecordKey
Sandiacre garden ngnaSK43S07/07/20231adultpaul buxtonvc57_irecords_extractiBRC39895109
Kirk Hallam, IlkestonSK44K07/07/20231adultHobby, Brianvc57_irecords_extractiBRC48690874
Ilkeston, DerbyshireSK44K06/07/20231adultHobby, Brianvc57_irecords_extractiBRC39895096
Rose Av,ClowneSK57D25/07/20121AdultD. Hursthousevc57_danes_bc_dataLC000334001COUG0
Rowthorne Trail Meadow, PleasleySK46W19/07/20121AdultK.R. Hustonvc57_danes_bc_dataLC000334001CP0CZ
Midway Rd,Midway,SwadlincoteSK32A02/07/20011AdultM.J. Williamsvc57_danes_bc_dataLC000334001COQZR

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