49.351 BF1252  –  Tortricidae –  Olethreutinae – Grapholita lunulana – Northern Crescent – (Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775) 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
** Identification write up required; photograph required **
Other Name/s: Northern Crescent Piercer
ID Difficulty:  amber  – care required in the identification process, as confusion with similar species is likely – quality photographs required.
Confusion Species:  Grapholita orobana (Southern Crescent)
ID pointers: Can be confused with G.orobana but this species flies in July and is restricted to a few places in Southern England and East Anglia.
Distribution:  (First record: 17 May 2010 at Pleasley Pit )  –  (Last record: 29 April 2025 at Whitwell Pit Tip )  –  Nationally Scarce B – DaNES 2 records both from Pleasley Pit 17/5/2010 appears to be a first VC57 record and 5/6/2016. iRecord 1 record from 17/5/2015 Langley Mill tip, 21/5/2022 from Deep Dale. latest record from Whitwell Pit tip 29/4/2025
General Comment: None
Flight Period: May /  June Moth Activity: Cathemeral  – Flies on sunny days Photographed: Yes –  Photographed By: Ian Hurst  © All Rights Reserved
*** Last updated on 2 October 2025 by RP ***
Wingspan: 11-17mm
Food Plant: A variety of Vetches and other legumes.
Last Recorded Year: 2025
First Recorded Year: 2010
Last Recorded By – Ian Hurst
Last Recorded General Area – Whitwell Pit Tip

Selected Images:  



Distribution Map for Grapholita lunulana

Found 8 records
    ↳ from 2026+
    ↳ 5 from 2020 - 2025
    ↳ 3 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 – Grapholita lunulana

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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: Grapholita lunulana
( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )

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


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

Shading shows moth presence between dates

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Recordings By Year: Grapholita lunulana
( All data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )
Annual Growth Rate (AGR): Grapholita lunulana
AGR: 1.5%   |   Total % Change: 25%

Hectad (10kmx10km) Coverage: Grapholita lunulana
( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )

Flight Periods – Indicative –vs– Recorded Data
Grapholita lunulana
( 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 - Grapholita lunulana – 8 records available

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

Site NameTetradDateCountStageSource
Markham Vale South TipSK47L22/05/20252adultvc57_irecords_extract
CheeDale Quarry ReserveSK17G17/05/20251adultvc57_irecords_extract
Chee Dale, Station QuarrySK17G17/05/20251adultvc57_irecords_extract
Deepdale (Plantlife Reserve)SK16U16/05/20251adultvc57_irecords_extract
Deep Dale NRSK16U21/05/20221adultvc57_irecords_extract
Pleasley Colliery NR, PleasleySK46X05/06/20161Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Langley Mill Tip, Amber DriveSK44N17/05/20151adultvc57_irecords_extract
Pleasley Pit (Orchid patch)SK46X17/05/20101Adultvc57_danes_bc_data

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