49.284 BF1186  –  Tortricidae –  Olethreutinae – Epiblema sticticana – Colt's-foot Root-borer – (Fabricius, 1794) Adult Micro:  CAT 2 – Can be confused with other species –       PDF Icon – click for General Verification Guidelines  |   PDF Icon – click for Specific Verification Guidelines
Brown –  Significant Record / Very Rare / Vagrant    
Taxonomy:   Micro   >>  Tortricidae  >> Olethreutinae
Other Name/s: Colt’s-foot Bell, farfarae
ID Difficulty:  amber  – care required in the identification process, as confusion with similar species is likely – quality photographs required.
Confusion Species:  E. scutulana
ID pointers: Rather difficult to distinguish from the closely related E. scutulana and E. cirsiana, this species is however generally lighter and browner. The forewing is heavily suffused with yellowish-brown or yellowish-grey. A large creamy white dorsal blotch.
Distribution:  (Last record: 16 July 2025 at Buxton )  –  On current data this species appears to be rare in the county. Since 1979 only 6 records to 2025.
General Comment: None
Flight Period: May /  June –  On the wing during May-June. Moth Activity: Nocturnal   – and is attracted to light Photographed: Yes –  Photographed By: Will Soar  © All Rights Reserved
*** Last updated on 2 October 2025 by RP ***
Wingspan: 15-20mm
Food Plant: Colt’s-foot.
Last Recorded Year: 2025
Last Recorded By – Jon Mortin
Last Recorded General Area – Buxton

Selected Images:  Willington GP, Derbyshire – Will Soar© 1/06/2008



Distribution Map for Epiblema sticticana

Found 10 records
    ↳ from 2026+
    ↳ 3 from 2020 - 2025
    ↳ 7 from Before 2020
Flying
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

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.

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 – Epiblema sticticana

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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: Epiblema sticticana
( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )

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


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

Shading shows moth presence between dates

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Recordings By Year: Epiblema sticticana
( All data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )
Annual Growth Rate (AGR): Epiblema sticticana
AGR: 5.22%   |   Total % Change: 150%

Hectad (10kmx10km) Coverage: Epiblema sticticana
( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )

Flight Periods – Indicative –vs– Recorded Data
Epiblema sticticana
( 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 - Epiblema sticticana – 10 records available

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

Site NameTetradDateCountStageSource
Fern Road (old garden), BuxtonSK07R16/07/20251adultvc57_irecords_extract
Chapel-en-le-Frith, DerbyshireSK07J01/07/20254adultvc57_irecords_extract
LightwoodSK07M16/06/20231adultvc57_irecords_extract
Derbyshire, UKSK07M28/05/20171Adultvc57_irecords_extract
Mam TorSK18G29/06/20151adultvc57_irecords_extract
LightwoodSK07M27/07/20131adultvc57_irecords_extract
Willington GPsSK22Y01/06/20081Adultvc57_irecords_extract
Cramside Wood (DWT reserve)SK17R20/06/20071Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Acton Rd Ind Est, Long EatonSK43W23/06/19951Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Carvers Rocks NR,Hartshorne,SwadlincoteSK32G07/06/19791Adultvc57_danes_bc_data

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