49.245 BF1137  –  Tortricidae –  Olethreutinae – Epinotia tetraquetrana – Birch-borer Tortrix – (Haworth, 1811) Adult Micro:  CAT 2 – Can be confused with other species –       PDF Icon – click for General Verification Guidelines  |   PDF Icon – click for Specific Verification Guidelines
Black – Uncertain/Unknown – Insufficient Data   
Taxonomy:   Micro   >>  Tortricidae  >> Olethreutinae
Other Name/s: Square-barred Bell
ID Difficulty:  amber  – care required in the identification process, as confusion with similar species is likely – quality photographs required.
Confusion Species:  Epinotia immundana (Birch Tortrix)
ID pointers: Narrow winged with a rather straight costa. forewing is yellowish-brown with a few blackish markings, a large pale greyish white blotch on the dorsum. A blackish, sometimes obsured ocellus.
Distribution:  (Last record: 15 May 2025 at Shillito Woods )  –  Uncertain – insufficient modern day data – Harrison & Sterling commented that the moth was widespread and locally common amongst birch.
DaNES – two records, one from Darley Dale 19/5/1995 & one from Hathersage 4/6/2010 One seen and photographed at Shillito Wood 15th May 2025/
General Comment: None
Flight Period: April /  May –  One generation during the spring in April – May. Moth Activity: Cathemeral   – and is attracted to light Photographed: Yes –  Photographed By: Ian Hurst  © All Rights Reserved
*** Last updated on 2 October 2025 by RP ***
Wingspan: 12-16mm
Food Plant: Birch and Alder
Last Recorded Year: 2025
Last Recorded By – Ian Hurst
Last Recorded General Area – Shillito Woods

Selected Images:  

Shillito Wood 15th May 2025 – Ian Hurst©



Distribution Map for Epinotia tetraquetrana

Found 3 records
    ↳ from 2026+
    ↳ 1 from 2020 - 2025
    ↳ 2 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 – Epinotia tetraquetrana

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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: Epinotia tetraquetrana
( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )

Monthly Counts By Year: Epinotia tetraquetrana
( data is based on 'Adult' stage records only. )


First/Last Recorded Dates: Epinotia tetraquetrana
Adult-only & Anything [Larvae, Pupae, Adult, Mines]

Shading shows moth presence between dates

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Recordings By Year: Epinotia tetraquetrana
( All data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )
Annual Growth Rate (AGR): Epinotia tetraquetrana
AGR: 0%   |   Total % Change: 0%

Hectad (10kmx10km) Coverage: Epinotia tetraquetrana
( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )

Flight Periods – Indicative –vs– Recorded Data
Epinotia tetraquetrana
( data includes Adult Stage only )

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 - Epinotia tetraquetrana – 3 records available

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

Site NameTetradDateCountStageSource
Shillito Wood, Fox lane, Dronfield, Derbyshire .SK27X15/05/20251adultvc57_irecords_extract
Millstone Edge,HathersageSK28K04/06/20101Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Clough Wood,Darley DaleSK26K19/05/19951Adultvc57_danes_bc_data

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