49.155 BF1086 – White-backed Tortrix – Hedya salicella – (Linnaeus, 1758)
Adult Micro: CAT 1 – Distinctive species unlikely to be confused with others –
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– click for General Verification Guidelines | – click for Specific Verification Guidelines 
– Rare / Uncommon / Scarce
– easy to identify, generally distinctive and unlikely to be confused with other species.ID pointers: Another bird dropping mimic. A large Hedya species that shows large areas of white on the forewing and a distinctive chestnut and grey crest on the thorax. The basal area of the forewing is white, the remaining third of forewing is dark blackish-brown over-layered and mottled with bluish-purple markings.
Distribution: (Last record: 10 June 2025 at Willington Wetlands NR ) – So few records since 1982, the current status would indicate this moth is uncommon across the county favouring the lowland areas wherever there is Sallow Carr. One discovered resting during the day at Willington on 10th June 2025,
General Comment: None *** Last updated on 2 October 2025 by RP ***
Last Recorded Year: 2025
Last Recorded By – Neil Loverock
Last Recorded General Area – Willington Wetlands NR
Selected Images: Belper, Derbyshire – Dave Evans© / Willington (2025) Neil Loverock©
Image Gallery
Temporal Distribution Chart
Adults: (between 1981 - 2025)
(click legend below to show/hide datasets)
This chart summarises all available historical occurrence records collated by ISO week of the year. It reflects recorder effort and sampling distribution as well as true biological activity, and should be interpreted as an indicative pattern of seasonal occurrence rather than a statistically controlled abundance or phenology model.
Distribution Map for Hedya salicella
Found 24 records
↳ from 2026+
↳ 14 from 2020 - 2025
↳ 10 from Before 2020
↳ from 2026+
↳ 14 from 2020 - 2025
↳ 10 from Before 2020
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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 – Hedya salicella
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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.
Monthly Records By Year:
Hedya salicella
( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )
Monthly Counts By Year:
Hedya salicella
( data is based on 'Adult' stage records only )
First/Last Recorded Dates: Hedya salicella
Adult-only & Anything [Larvae, Pupae, Adult, Mines]
Shading shows moth presence between dates
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Recordings By Year: Hedya salicella
( All data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )
Annual Growth Rate (AGR): Hedya salicella
AGR: -2.97% | Total % Change: -50%
Hectad (10kmx10km) Coverage: Hedya salicella
( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )
Flight Periods – Indicative –vs– Recorded Data
Hedya salicella
Hedya salicella
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 - Hedya salicella – 24 records available
Listed by Year - descending - scroll across to see all table columns
| Site Name | Tetrad | Date | Count | Stage | Recorder | Source | RecordKey |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Belper | SK34U | 26/07/2025 | 1 | adult | Evans, Dave | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC43914614 |
| Markham Vale Derbyshire | SK47K | 29/06/2025 | 1 | adult | Morris, Sid | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC42896467 |
| Sandiacre Garden | SK43T | 20/06/2025 | 1 | adult | Milnes, Emily | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC51069006 |
| Barrow upon Trent, Derbyshire | SK32J | 11/06/2025 | 1 | adult | TOM SHIELDS | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC42208711 |
| Willington Wetlands | SK22T | 10/06/2025 | 1 | adult | loverock, neil | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC43442682 |
| Markham Vale South Tip | SK47L | 23/06/2024 | 1 | adult | Morris, Sid | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC36628945 |
| Orchid Wood | SK43L | 08/09/2023 | 2 | adult | Bryce, Marion | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC32936771 |
| Ninelands Road | SK28F | 07/07/2023 | 1 | adult | Blues, Clare | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC31413022 |
| Woodland Ave | SK43R | 30/06/2023 | 1 | adult | Thorpe, Steve | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC33496606 |
| Woodland Ave | SK43R | 16/07/2022 | 1 | Adult | Thorpe, Steve | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC27846492 |
| Not given | SK22F | 08/07/2021 | 2 | Adult | Williams, Michael | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC21019991 |
| Drakelow, Derbys. | SK22F | 08/07/2021 | 2 | adult | Williams, Michael | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC38545834 |
| Belper | SK34U | 08/07/2021 | 1 | adult | Evans, Dave | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC35322995 |
| Findern, Derbyshire, DEAZ | SK33A | 21/07/2020 | 1 | adult | Brian and Jean Hallam | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC35163283 |
| Burnaston (Toyota Plant NR), Derby | SK23V | 20/07/2013 | 6 | Adult | Dave Budworth;B.G. Sewell | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001CP93T |
| Clough Wood,Darley Dale | SK26K | 14/07/2011 | 1 | Adult | A. Butler | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001COXSF |
| The Hollies,Station Rd,Darley Dale | SK26R | 31/07/2010 | 1 | Adult | Roddis, Simon | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001CP692 |
| Midway Rd,Midway,Swadlincote | SK32A | 09/07/2010 | 1 | Adult | M.J. Williams | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001CP5V1 |
| The Hollies,Station Rd,Darley Dale | SK26R | 12/07/2009 | 1 | Adult | Roddis, Simon | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001COWTK |
| Foremark Resr, Ticknall | SK32H | 09/07/2005 | 1 | Adult | A. Davison;N. Topliss;W. Soar | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001CP2MU |
| Williamthorpe NR | SK46I | 06/10/2002 | 2 | Adult | B.L. Statham | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001CP1GZ |
| Borrowash (Canal), Borrowash, Derby | SK43C | 19/07/1996 | 1 | Adult | VC57 Derbyshire Recorder | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001COQVG |
| Acton Rd Ind Est, Long Eaton | SK43W | 28/06/1995 | 1 | Adult | VC57 Derbyshire Recorder | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001CP16E |
| Mapperley NR, Mapperley, Ilkeston | SK44G | 18/07/1981 | 1 | Adult | VC57 Derbyshire Recorder | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001COQD4 |