Pyla fusca - Dusky Knot-horn - Buxton-Steve Orridge
62.012 BF1451  – Dusky Knot-horn  – Pyla fusca  – (Haworth, 1811)
Adult Micro:  CAT 1 – Distinctive species unlikely to be confused with others –       Leaf-miner:  CAT A – Recorded accepted without the leaf or a photo –       Larval Case:  C1 – Distinctive Species –      
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Green –  Rare / Uncommon / Scarce   
Taxonomy:   Micro   >>  Pyralidae  >> Phycitinae
Other Name/s: Matilella fusca, Brown Knot-horn
ID Difficulty:  Red – difficult to identify – detailed examination required, often a Gen Det and/or specimen and quality photographs are required.
ID pointers: Sooty black with finer pale speckling and dusting and two paler cross-lines.
Distribution:  (Last record: 25 August 2025 at Glossop )  –  A species of heathland and moorland and widely distributed across the heather moorland in Derbyshire. Has a habit of resting on burnt heather, where its colouration makes for cryptic camouflage.
General Comment: None
Flight Period: May /  June /  July /  August –  On the wing during May – August. Moth Activity: Nocturnal   – but can be disturbed during the day Photographed: Yes –  Photographed By: Steve Orridge; Christian Heintzen  © All Rights Reserved
*** Last updated on 24 January 2026 by TD ***
Wingspan: c.26mm
Food Plant: Heather and Bilberry.
Last Recorded Year: 2025
Last Recorded By – Christian Heintzen
Last Recorded General Area – Glossop

Selected Images:  

Buxton, Derbyshire – Steve Orridge© / Glossop (Aug 2025) – Christian Heintzen©



Temporal Distribution Chart
Adults: (between 1971 - 2025)
(click legend below to show/hide datasets)

Distribution Map for Pyla fusca

Found 18 records
    ↳ from 2026+
    ↳ 10 from 2020 - 2025
    ↳ 8 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 – Pyla fusca

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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.

Visit NBN Site


Monthly Records By Year: Pyla fusca
( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )

Monthly Counts By Year: Pyla fusca
( data is based on 'Adult' stage records only )

First/Last Recorded Dates: Pyla fusca
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: Pyla fusca
( All data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )
Annual Growth Rate (AGR): Pyla fusca
AGR: 0%   |   Total % Change: 0%

Hectad (10kmx10km) Coverage: Pyla fusca
( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )

Flight Periods – Indicative –vs– Recorded Data
Pyla fusca

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 - Pyla fusca – 18 records available

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

Site NameTetradDateCountStageRecorderSourceRecordKey
Glossop, Hague Street, Hay MeadowSK09G25/08/20251adultHeintzen, Christianvc57_irecords_extractiBRC48746986
Wingerworth, DerbyshireSK36Y08/08/20251adultWindle, Jimvc57_irecords_extractiBRC44247241
Buxton SK, UKSK07S18/06/20221AdultOrridge, Stevevc57_irecords_extractiBRC25898086
Buxton SK, UKSK07S27/06/20211AdultOrridge, Stevevc57_irecords_extractiBRC23083567
Ladycroft Ave, BuxtonSK07S26/06/20211adultOrridge, Stevevc57_irecords_extractiBRC35092832
Ladycroft Ave, BuxtonSK07S16/07/20201adultOrridge, Stevevc57_irecords_extractiBRC35095586
Birch ValeSK08I26/06/20201adultHewitt, Janevc57_irecords_extractiBRC35066954
Allestree, DerbySK33P16/06/20201adultPlant, Stephenvc57_irecords_extractiBRC46344260
Birch ValeSK08I15/06/20202adultHewitt, Janevc57_irecords_extractiBRC35066694
Buxton SK, UKSK07S07/06/20201AdultOrridge, Stevevc57_irecords_extractiBRC33708455
Ladycroft Ave, BuxtonSK07S10/07/20191adultOrridge, Stevevc57_irecords_extractiBRC35097046
Ladycroft AveSK07S16/07/20131adultOrridge, Stevevc57_irecords_extractiBRC40990993
Beeley Moor, BeeleySK26Y06/06/20076AdultB.L. Stathamvc57_danes_bc_dataLC000334001COS9M
The Hollies,Station Rd,Darley DaleSK26R20/07/20041AdultRoddis, Simonvc57_danes_bc_dataLC000334001CP21H
Deerlands Rd, Ashgate, ChesterfieldSK37K11/07/19921AdultVC57 Derbyshire Recordervc57_danes_bc_dataLC000334001CP0ZC
Deerlands Rd, Ashgate, ChesterfieldSK37K22/06/19921AdultVC57 Derbyshire Recordervc57_danes_bc_dataLC000334001COV8X
Deerlands Rd, Ashgate, ChesterfieldSK37K15/06/19891AdultVC57 Derbyshire Recordervc57_danes_bc_dataLC000334001CP0TQ
Newbold Ave, ChesterfieldSK37R22/08/19711AdultVC57 Derbyshire Recordervc57_danes_bc_dataLC000334001COZJE

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