49.194 BF1111 – Common Lance – Bactra lancealana – (Hübner, 1799)
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: Bactra lacteana
ID pointers: The Male forewing is a brown, pale greyish-brown, yellowish-brown or orangey-brown, with darker markings, varying from almost uniform to a brown net-like pattern. Often there is a dark brown crescent shaped mark in the mid-wing at about two-thirds. The female forewing may be plain brownish with the dorsal two-thirds a dark brownish and the costal third pale brownish or pale brownish with a dark brown streak from base to termen.
Distribution: (Last record: 26 August 2024 at Belper ) – From available data this species appears to be uncommon and localised across the county. One site recorded 10 individuals 9th June 2020, this appears to be an exceptional record.
General Comment: None *** Last updated on 31 December 2025 by TD ***
Last Recorded Year: 2024
Last Recorded By – Dave Evans
Last Recorded General Area – Belper
Selected Images: Kings Newton, Derbyshire – Will Soar© / Belper 29/5/2025 – Dave Evans©
Image Gallery
No gallery images found for this moth.
Temporal Distribution Chart
Adults: (between 1994 - 2025)
(click legend below to show/hide datasets)
Distribution Map for Bactra lancealana
Found 48 records
↳ from 2026+
↳ 24 from 2020 - 2025
↳ 24 from Before 2020
↳ from 2026+
↳ 24 from 2020 - 2025
↳ 24 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 – Bactra lancealana
⚠️ 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:
Bactra lancealana
( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )
Monthly Counts By Year:
Bactra lancealana
( data is based on 'Adult' stage records only )
First/Last Recorded Dates: Bactra lancealana
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: Bactra lancealana
( All data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )
Annual Growth Rate (AGR): Bactra lancealana
AGR: 0.57% | Total % Change: 13.3%
Hectad (10kmx10km) Coverage: Bactra lancealana
( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )
Flight Periods – Indicative –vs– Recorded Data
Bactra lancealana
Bactra lancealana
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 - Bactra lancealana – 48 records available
Listed by Year - descending - scroll across to see all table columns
| Site Name | Tetrad | Date | Count | Stage | Recorder | Source | RecordKey |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Leaf Plant Centre | SK38K | 27/09/2025 | 1 | adult | Tait, Malcolm | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC45663440 |
| Nether North Grain, Snake Road | SK19B | 24/08/2025 | 1 | adult | Neil Sherman | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC48244976 |
| Ladycroft Ave, Buxton | SK07S | 14/08/2025 | 1 | not recorded | Orridge, Steve | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC48189144 |
| Ladycroft Ave, Buxton | SK07S | 10/08/2025 | 1 | adult | Orridge, Steve | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC48187059 |
| Dinting Nature Reserve | SK09C | 06/08/2025 | 1 | adult | Christian Heintzen, David Walsh, Bill Underwood, Alex Lees | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC44291279 |
| Belper, Derbyshire | SK34N | 06/08/2025 | 1 | adult | Newcombe, Dave | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC44353606 |
| National Stone Centre, Wirksworth. | SK25X | 30/07/2025 | 1 | adult | Evans, Dave | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC44004672 |
| upper cromford garden | SK25Y | 29/07/2025 | 2 | adult | Ashton, Clive | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC44038698 |
| Darwin Forest | SK36C | 06/07/2025 | 2 | adult | Evans, Dave | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC43158454 |
| Darwin Forest | SK26X | 05/07/2025 | 1 | adult | Evans, Dave | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC43066129 |
| Belper | SK34N | 29/05/2025 | 1 | adult | Evans, Dave | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC41951709 |
| Findern, Derbyshire | SK33A | 23/05/2025 | 1 | adult | Hallam, Brian | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC42028027 |
| DWT Wyver Lane | SK34P | 20/05/2025 | 1 | adult | Evans, Dave | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC41723745 |
| Belper | SK34N | 13/05/2025 | 1 | adult | Evans, Dave | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC41638899 |
| Belper | SK34N | 13/05/2025 | 1 | adult | Evans, Dave | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC41641217 |
| Belper | SK34N | 12/05/2025 | 1 | adult | Evans, Dave | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC41552031 |
| Hathersage | SK28F | 26/08/2024 | 1 | adult | Kydd, Alan | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC39925804 |
| c | SK33T | 12/08/2024 | 1 | adult | roome, martin | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC38337944 |
| DWT Wyver Lane | SK34P | 12/06/2024 | 1 | adult | Evans, Dave | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC36407486 |
| DWT Wyver Lane | SK34P | 05/06/2024 | 2 | adult | Evans, Dave | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC36287401 |
| DWT Wyver Lane | SK34P | 15/06/2023 | 1 | adult | Evans, Dave | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC35307964 |
| DWT Wyver Lane | SK34P | 07/06/2023 | 1 | adult | Evans, Dave | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC35307857 |
| Derbyshire Wild Life Trust Long Clough | SK09G | 27/05/2023 | 1 | adult | Heintzen, Christian | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC36336040 |
| Golden Brook NR | SK43R | 09/06/2020 | 10 | adult | Thorpe, Steve | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC33500949 |
| Taddington High Mere | SK17K | 24/05/2019 | 1 | Adult | Marriott, Antony | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC10230937 |
| Main Street, Kings Newton | SK32Y | 19/07/2018 | 1 | Adult | Soar, Will | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC34060417 |
| Ladycroft Ave, Buxton | SK07S | 14/07/2018 | 1 | adult | Steve A. Orridge | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC49168405 |
| Lightwood, Buxton | SK07M | 28/05/2018 | 1 | adult | Orridge, Steve | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC49303833 |
| Backgarden Marehay | SK34Z | 04/08/2014 | 1 | adult | Thorpe, Steve | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC33507474 |
| Backgarden Marehay | SK34Z | 01/06/2014 | 1 | adult | Thorpe, Steve | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC33506397 |
| Backgarden Marehay | SK34Z | 15/05/2014 | 1 | adult | Thorpe, Steve | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC33506324 |
| Midway Rd,Midway,Swadlincote | SK32A | 15/06/2013 | 1 | Adult | M.J. Williams | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001CP8UF |
| Dovedale | SK15K | 01/08/2011 | 1 | Adult | D. Grundy | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001CP9TJ |
| Dovedale | SK15K | 30/07/2010 | 2 | Adult | D. Grundy | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001CP9RN |
| Biggin Dale, nr Hartington | SK15P | 12/06/2010 | 1 | Adult | D. Grundy | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001CP5D6 |
| Calke Park,Ticknall | SK32L | 02/06/2009 | 1 | Adult | Finch, Graham Leonard | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001CP4O9 |
| Calke Park, Lime avenue | SK32L | 06/06/2008 | 3 | adult | Finch, Graham Leonard | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC35105673 |
| Calke Park,Ticknall | SK32L | 06/06/2008 | 3 | Adult | G.L. Finch;M.A. Finch | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001CP480 |
| Robin Wood | SK32M | 25/08/2006 | 1 | Adult | Soar, Will | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC34676443 |
| Robin Wood (centre area track), Ticknall | SK32M | 25/08/2006 | 1 | Adult | Dave Budworth;W. Soar | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001CORZ1 |
| Mousley Bottom, New Mills | SJ98X | 18/08/2006 | 1 | Adult | S.H. Hind | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001CP3HX |
| Main Street, Kings Newton | SK32Y | 27/06/2005 | 1 | Adult | Soar, Will | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC34676442 |
| Main St,Kings Newton,Melbourne | SK32Y | 27/06/2005 | 1 | Adult | Soar, Will | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001CORIK |
| Edgecote Drive,Newhall,Swadlincote | SK22V | 29/07/2004 | 1 | Adult | Topliss, Neil | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001CORDM |
| Chunnal Moor, Glossop | SK09G | 24/08/2003 | 1 | Adult | FARRELL, Mr S., GREENALL, Mr P., SMART, Mr B., FLE | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001COZPP |
| Longshaw Est, Padley Gorge | SK28K | 22/08/2003 | 1 | Adult | H.E. Beaumont;R.F. Botterill | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001COS5S |
| Calke Park Whimsey Field | SK32R | 05/08/2003 | 1 | Adult | Soar, Will | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC34676441 |
| Hilton GP | SK23K | 23/08/1994 | 1 | Adult | VC57 Derbyshire Recorder | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001CP155 |