49.286 BF1184a – Knapweed Root-borer – Epiblema cirsiana – (Zeller, 1843)
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: Epiblema scutulana (Thistle Root-borer) E. sticticana
ID pointers: Very similar to E.scutulana which has a pale hindwing, and E.sticticana food plant helps in some cases.Generally smaller, showing less white on the forewing.
Distribution: (Last record: 21 May 2025 at Belper ) – Harrison & Sterling – records between 1919 – 1968 widespread; DaNES – 9 records 1905(3), 2007,2008, 2014(3). Several reported to iRecord (2022 & 2023) but these have been inconclusive
One recorded in Belper on 21st May 2025.It was freshly emerged on Knapweed with none of the other larval food plants of the trio of confusion in the vicinity. Next day there were another 2 specimens on the same plant.
General Comment: None *** Last updated on 7 November 2025 by RP ***
Last Recorded Year: 2025
Last Recorded By – Dave Evans
Last Recorded General Area – Belper
Selected Images:
Belper May 2025 – Dave Evans©
Image Gallery
No gallery images found for this moth.
Temporal Distribution Chart
Adults: (between 1905 - 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 Epiblema cirsiana
Found 10 records
↳ from 2026+
↳ 1 from 2020 - 2025
↳ 9 from Before 2020
↳ from 2026+
↳ 1 from 2020 - 2025
↳ 9 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 – Epiblema cirsiana
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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:
Epiblema cirsiana
( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )
Monthly Counts By Year:
Epiblema cirsiana
( data is based on 'Adult' stage records only )
First/Last Recorded Dates: Epiblema cirsiana
Adult-only & Anything [Larvae, Pupae, Adult, Mines]
Shading shows moth presence between dates
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Recordings By Year: Epiblema cirsiana
( All data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )
Annual Growth Rate (AGR): Epiblema cirsiana
AGR: -3.25% | Total % Change: -50%
Hectad (10kmx10km) Coverage: Epiblema cirsiana
( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )
Flight Periods – Indicative –vs– Recorded Data
Epiblema cirsiana
Epiblema cirsiana
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 cirsiana – 10 records available
Listed by Year - descending - scroll across to see all table columns
| Site Name | Tetrad | Date | Count | Stage | Recorder | Source | RecordKey |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Markham Vale South Tip | SK47K | 05/05/2025 | 1 | adult | Radford, Mark | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC41384959 |
| Millennium Meadow NR, Duffield | SK34L | 10/06/2014 | 1 | Adult | VC57 Derbyshire Recorder | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001COYVQ |
| Millennium Meadow NR, Duffield | SK34L | 17/05/2014 | 1 | Adult | VC57 Derbyshire Recorder | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001CP0FM |
| Millennium Meadow NR, Duffield | SK34L | 21/04/2014 | 1 | Adult | VC57 Derbyshire Recorder | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001COYUW |
| Briar Close,Newhall,Swadlincote | SK22V | 21/05/2008 | 3 | Adult | K. Peach | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001CP46O |
| Tideswell Dale | SK17L | 09/06/2007 | 1 | Adult | S.H. Hind | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001CP3TL |
| Clough Wood/Darley Bridge | SK26Q | 22/05/2004 | 2 | Adult | Roddis, Simon | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001COVK3 |
| Willington area, Derby | SK22Z | 02/04/1905 | 1 | Adult | VC57 Derbyshire Recorder | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001COQH3 |
| Via Gelia, Matlock (site not precise) | SK25N | 02/04/1905 | 1 | Adult | VC57 Derbyshire Recorder | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001COQGX |
| Little Eaton, Derby (site not precise) | SK34Q | 02/04/1905 | 1 | Adult | VC57 Derbyshire Recorder | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001COQH7 |