Acleris laterana/comariana       Acleris rhombana
49.069 BF1041  –  Tortricidae –  Tortricinae – Acleris sparsana – Lead-coloured Tortrix – ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775) Adult Micro:  CAT 1 – Distinctive Species –       PDF Icon – click for General Verification Guidelines  |   PDF Icon – click for Specific Verification Guidelines
Blue –  Generally Common / Widespread   
Taxonomy:   Micro  >> .  . >>  Tortricidae  >> Tortricinae
Other Name/s: Ashy Button
ID Difficulty:  green  – easy to identify, generally distinctive and unlikely to be confused with other species.
ID pointers: Variable – Forewing broad – typical form has grey ground colour marked with fine speckles of dark and light colours. Sometimes with a triangular shaped costa blotch.
Distribution:  Common wherever mature Beech (fagus) occurs. Multiple records from across the county.
Flight Period: August /  September /  October /  –  On the wing during August – October. Moth Activity: Nocturnal   – and is attracted to light Photographed: Yes –  Photographed By: Tony Davison, Clive Ashton  © All Rights Reserved
*** Last updated on 7 May 2025 by RP ***
Wingspan: 18-22mm
 Food Plant: ~Beech (Fagus) and Sycamore (Acer).
Recorded dates for Common [Blue code Blue-coded] moths are not stored on the website at this current time.
IMAGES BELOW:  Kings Newton, Derbyshire – Tony Davison© / Cromford – Clive Ashton©

49.069 BF1041 - Tortricidae - Tortricinae - Acleris sparsana
Acleris sparsana – Melbourne – Tony Davison
Acleris sparsana - 3:11:24 - Cromford - Clive Ashton
Acleris sparsana – 3:11:24 – Cromford – Clive Ashton
49.069 BF1041 - Tortricidae - Tortricinae - Acleris sparsana
Acleris sparsana - 3:11:24 - Cromford - Clive Ashton

Acleris sparsana - 3:11:24 - Cromford - Clive Ashton Acleris sparsana -3rd November 2024 - Cromford - Clive Ashton
49.069 BF1041-acleris-sparsana 49.069 BF1041 - Acleris sparsana Melbourne, Derbyshire - Tony Davison©

Distribution Map for Acleris sparsana

derbyshiremoths.org © makes no guarantee of accuracy of data used in these maps and charts – they are presented to you with best endeavours and the data behind them updated periodically as time permits. Historic records are being discovered all the time. These will be assessed, so once they are all verified, they will be incorporated onto the map and charts.

Found 158 records
    ↳ 0 from After 2025
    ↳ 93 from 2020 - 2024
    ↳ 65 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.

******* Choose ONLY one at a time, of either Monad, Tetrad or Hectad Distribution - each has it's own set of data. Also, the distribution maps cover ALL recorded data. *******

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.


Monthly Records By Year: Acleris sparsana

Monthly Counts By Year: Acleris sparsana

Recordings By Year: Acleris sparsana

Annual Growth Rate (AGR): Acleris sparsana
AGR: -2.3%   |   Total % Change: -42.7%
Years Analysed: 2000 – 2024

Hectad (10kmx10km) Coverage: Acleris sparsana

Flight Periods – Indicative –vs– Recorded Data
Acleris sparsana

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.

Records Behind the Map and Charts - Acleris sparsana – 158 records available

Listed by Year - descending

TaxonSite NameTetradYearDateCountStage
Acleris sparsanaHigh Leas Farm, RiberSK35D202402/11/20247adult
Acleris sparsanaNorton Lees, SheffieldSK38L202402/11/20241adult
Acleris sparsanaOld Park Plantation, BeeleySK26U202403/11/20241
Acleris sparsanaupper cromford gardenSK25Y202408/11/20241adult
Acleris sparsanaHigh Leas Farm, RiberSK35D202402/11/20241adult
Acleris sparsanaBelperSK34U202401/11/20241adult
Acleris sparsanaLadycroft Ave, BuxtonSK07S202401/11/20244adult
Acleris sparsanaPeak District National Park, Bakewell, England, GBSK26E202411/11/20241
Acleris sparsanaDerbyshire, UKSK26U202403/11/20241
Acleris sparsanaOld Park Plantation, BeeleySK26U202403/11/20241
Acleris sparsanaLadycroft Ave, BuxtonSK07S202403/11/20241adult
Acleris sparsanaupper cromford gardenSK25Y202415/11/20241adult
Acleris sparsanaupper cromford gardenSK25Y202403/11/20241adult
Acleris sparsanaupper cromford gardenSK25Y202406/11/20242adult
Acleris sparsanaDarwin ForestSK26X202403/10/20241adult
Acleris sparsanaBuxton (w)SK07R202411/10/20241adult
Acleris sparsanaBelperSK34N202424/10/20241adult
Acleris sparsanaupper cromford gardenSK25Y202431/10/20241adult
Acleris sparsanaMickleover gardenSK33C202418/10/20241adult
Acleris sparsanaBuxton (w)SK07R202404/10/20241adult
Acleris sparsanaBuxton (w)SK07R202417/10/20243adult
Acleris sparsanaAllestree, DerbySK33P202424/10/20241adult
Acleris sparsanaupper cromford gardenSK25Y202428/10/20241adult
Acleris sparsanaHathersageSK28F202418/10/20241adult
Acleris sparsanaupper cromford gardenSK25Y202405/10/20241adult
Acleris sparsanaBuxton (w)SK07R202423/10/20241adult
Acleris sparsanaBuxton (w)SK07R202431/10/20244adult
Acleris sparsanaDarwin ForestSK26X202401/10/20241adult
Acleris sparsanaHathersageSK28F202425/10/20241adult
Acleris sparsanaupper cromford gardenSK25Y202408/10/20241adult
Acleris sparsanaAllestree, DerbySK33P202424/10/20241adult
Acleris sparsanaBelper, DerbyshireSK34N202428/10/20241adult
Acleris sparsanaDarwin ForestSK26X202402/10/20241adult
Acleris sparsanaNorton Lees, Sheffield (VC57)SK38L202406/09/20241adult
Acleris sparsanaBuxton (w)SK07R202413/09/20241adult
Acleris sparsanaDarwin ForestSK26X202430/09/20242adult
Acleris sparsanaNorton Lees, Sheffield (VC57)SK38L202408/09/20242adult
Acleris sparsanaFindern, Derbyshire, DE65 6AZSK33A202417/09/20241adult
Acleris sparsanaNorton Lees, SheffieldSK38L202420/09/20242adult
Acleris sparsanaNorton Lees, Sheffield (VC57)SK38L202430/08/20241adult
Acleris sparsanaBuxton (w)SK07R202406/08/20241adult
Acleris sparsanaDerbyshire, UKSK26Q202412/07/20241
Acleris sparsanaBuxtonSK07R202305/11/20232adult
Acleris sparsanaBuxton SK17, UKSK07R202306/11/20231
Acleris sparsanaBuxton SK17, UKSK07R202314/10/20231Adult
Acleris sparsanaWoodland AveSK43R202308/10/20231adult
Acleris sparsanaBuxton SK17, UKSK07S202323/10/20231
Acleris sparsanaWhite Knowle Road, BuxtonSK07R202309/10/20231
Acleris sparsanaBelper GardenSK34P202307/10/20231adult
Acleris sparsanaBuxton SK17, UKSK07R202308/10/20231
Acleris sparsanaBuxton SK17, UKSK07R202308/10/20231
Acleris sparsanaBelperSK34U202309/10/20231adult
Acleris sparsanaShirland - Hallfieldgate LaneSK35Z202307/10/20231Adult
Acleris sparsanaBuxton SK17, UKSK07R202309/10/20231
Acleris sparsanaLadycroft AveSK07S202324/10/20231adult
Acleris sparsanaGlossop, 44 Hague StreetSK09G202308/10/20231adult
Acleris sparsanaBuxton SK17, UKSK07R202322/10/20231Adult
Acleris sparsanaHigh Leas Farm, RiberSK35D202327/10/20233adult
Acleris sparsanaBuxton SK17, UKSK07R202326/09/20231
Acleris sparsanaBuxton SK17, UKSK07S202318/09/20231
Acleris sparsanaInkersall gardenSK47G202307/09/20231adult
Acleris sparsanaBuxton SK17, UKSK07S202309/09/20231
Acleris sparsanaBuxton SK17, UKSK07R202309/09/20231
Acleris sparsanaInkersall gardenSK47G202303/09/20232adult
Acleris sparsanaWoodland AveSK43R202315/09/20231adult
Acleris sparsanaBuxton SK17, UKSK07R202309/09/20231
Acleris sparsanaBuxton SK17, UKSK07R202323/08/20231
Acleris sparsanaHathersage, Derbyshire, UKSK28F202211/11/20221adult
Acleris sparsanaHathersage, Derbyshire, UKSK28F202225/11/20221adult
Acleris sparsanaHathersageSK28F202229/10/20221adult
Acleris sparsanaHathersage, Derbyshire, UKSK28F202210/10/20221adult
Acleris sparsanaBuxton SK17, UKSK07S202220/09/20221
Acleris sparsanaHathersage, Derbyshire, UKSK28F202216/09/20221adult
Acleris sparsanaWaingroves Wood Bat and Moth NightSK44E202220/08/20221adult
Acleris sparsanaFindern, Derbyshire, DE65 6AZSK33A202218/07/20221adult
Acleris sparsanaWoodland AveSK43R202225/06/20221adult
Acleris sparsanaKirk Hallam, IlkestonSK44K202105/11/20211adult
Acleris sparsanaLadycroft Ave, BuxtonSK07S202108/10/20211adult
Acleris sparsanaLadycroft Ave, BuxtonSK07S202109/10/20212adult
Acleris sparsanaBuxton SK17, UKSK07S202107/10/20211
Acleris sparsanaHavercroft RoadSK38L202123/10/20211Adult
Acleris sparsanaShirland - Hallfieldgate LaneSK35Z202108/10/20212adult
Acleris sparsanaHathersageSK28F202118/10/20211adult
Acleris sparsanaDrakelow, Derbys.SK22F202109/10/20211adult
Acleris sparsanaHavercroft RoadSK38L202104/09/20211Adult
Acleris sparsanaWoodland AveSK43R202110/09/20211adult
Acleris sparsanaShirland - Hallfieldgate LaneSK35Z202124/09/20211adult
Acleris sparsanaWoodland AveSK43R202112/09/20211adult
Acleris sparsanaBuxton SK17, UKSK07S202108/09/20211
Acleris sparsanaWoodland AveSK43R202126/09/20211adult
Acleris sparsanaBuxton SK17, UKSK07S202004/10/20201Adult
Acleris sparsanaFindern, Derbyshire, DE65 6AZSK33A202013/09/20201adult
Acleris sparsanaDerbyshire, England, United KingdomSK07S202016/09/20201Adult
Acleris sparsanaLadycroft Ave, BuxtonSK07S201923/10/20191adult
Acleris sparsanaHathersage, Derbyshire, UKSK28F201923/10/20191adult
Acleris sparsanaFindern, Derbyshire, DE65 6AZSK33A201923/10/20191adult
Acleris sparsanaForbes HoleSK43W201713/10/20171adult
Acleris sparsanaNorton Lees gardenSK38L201628/10/20161not recorded
Acleris sparsanaShirland - Hallfieldgate LaneSK35Z201628/10/20162Adult
Acleris sparsanaNorton Lees gardenSK38L201626/10/20161not recorded

Acleris laterana/comariana       Acleris rhombana

Copyright Tony Davison © 2025 www.derbyshiremoths.org

Scroll to Top