62.012 BF1451  –  Pyralidae –  Phycitinae – Pyla fusca – Dusky Knot-horn – (Haworth, 1811) Adult Micro:  CAT 1 – Distinctive species unlikely to be confused with others –       PDF Icon – click for General Verification Guidelines  |   PDF Icon – click for Specific Verification Guidelines
Green –  Rare / Uncommon / Scarce   
Taxonomy:   Micro   >>  Pyralidae  >> Phycitinae
Other Name/s: Matilella fusca, Brown Knot-horn
ID pointers: Sooty black with finer pale speckling and dusting and two paler cross-lines.
Distribution:  Was Pyla fusca. 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  © All Rights Reserved
*** Last updated on 2 October 2025 by RP ***
Wingspan: c.26mm
Food Plant: Heather and Bilberry.
Last Recorded By – Not Recorded
Last Recorded General Area – Not Recorded

Selected Images:  Buxton, Derbyshire – Steve Orridge©



Distribution Map for Pyla fusca

Found 17 records
    ↳ from 2026+
    ↳ 9 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.

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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
( 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 - Pyla fusca – 17 records available

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

Site NameTetradDateCountStageSource
Wingerworth, DerbyshireSK36Y08/08/20251adultvc57_irecords_extract
Buxton SK, UKSK07S18/06/20221Adultvc57_irecords_extract
Buxton SK, UKSK07S27/06/20211Adultvc57_irecords_extract
Ladycroft Ave, BuxtonSK07S26/06/20211adultvc57_irecords_extract
Ladycroft Ave, BuxtonSK07S16/07/20201adultvc57_irecords_extract
Birch ValeSK08I26/06/20201adultvc57_irecords_extract
Allestree, DerbySK33P16/06/20201adultvc57_irecords_extract
Birch ValeSK08I15/06/20202adultvc57_irecords_extract
Buxton SK, UKSK07S07/06/20201Adultvc57_irecords_extract
Ladycroft Ave, BuxtonSK07S10/07/20191adultvc57_irecords_extract
Ladycroft AveSK07S16/07/20131adultvc57_irecords_extract
Beeley Moor, BeeleySK26Y06/06/20076Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
The Hollies,Station Rd,Darley DaleSK26R20/07/20041Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Deerlands Rd, Ashgate, ChesterfieldSK37K11/07/19921Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Deerlands Rd, Ashgate, ChesterfieldSK37K22/06/19921Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Deerlands Rd, Ashgate, ChesterfieldSK37K15/06/19891Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Newbold Ave, ChesterfieldSK37R22/08/19711Adultvc57_danes_bc_data

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