63.005 BF1365  –  Crambidae –  Pyraustinae – Pyrausta despicata – Straw-barred Pearl – (Scopoli, 1763) Adult Micro:  CAT 1 – Distinctive Species –       PDF Icon – click for General Verification Guidelines  |   PDF Icon – click for Specific Verification Guidelines
Black – Uncertain/Unknown – Insufficient Data   
Taxonomy:   Micro   >>  Crambidae  >> Pyraustinae
ID Difficulty:  green  – easy to identify, generally distinctive and unlikely to be confused with other species.
ID pointers: A plain brown triangular shaped pyrausta species, with two brown dots near the middle of the forewing and with slightly paler cross-bands. 
Distribution:  (Last record: 7 August 2025 at Cromford, Derbyshire )  –  Unknown, probably locally common. Most probably overlooked or under recorded. Frequents chalky or limestone habitats. One seen during the daytime on 2nd July 2021 and up to 6 at Gang Mine 18th June 2025.
Flight Period: April /  May /  June /  July /  August /  September /  –  On the wing during April – June & July – September. Moth Activity: Nocturnal  Diurnal   – is often seen during the day Photographed: Yes –  Photographed By: Steve Orridge; Clive Ashton  © All Rights Reserved
*** Last updated on 2 October 2025 by RP ***
Wingspan: 14-19mm
Food Plant: Ribwort plantain (Plantago lanceolata) & Greater plantain (P. major).
Last Recorded Year: 2025
Last Recorded By – Clive Ashton
Last Recorded General Area – Cromford, Derbyshire

Selected Images:  Hay Dale,Derbyshire – Steve Orridge© / Gang Mine (2025) Clive Ashton© / Cromford (2025) Clive Ashton©



Distribution Map for Pyrausta despicata

Found 73 records
    ↳ 25 from After 2025
    ↳ 22 from 2020 - 2024
    ↳ 26 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 – Pyrausta despicata

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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: Pyrausta despicata
( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )

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


First/Last Recorded Dates: Pyrausta despicata
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: Pyrausta despicata
( All data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )
Annual Growth Rate (AGR): Pyrausta despicata
AGR: -1.73%   |   Total % Change: -30.7%


CUSUM Analysis: Pyrausta despicata
About this chart: CUSUM (Cumulative Sum) charts track long-term trends in moth populations [ filtered by 'Adult' and 'Mine' life stages ] by showing whether each year’s counts are above or below the historical average. Even small shifts build up over time, making trends of growth, stability, or decline easier to see. CUSUM highlights trend-consistency — asking: “Across the years, have moth counts mostly stayed above or below average?”
The data sample has 13 gap year/s here (zero records) between 2000 and 2025. The moth may have been present in those gap years, but no data was available. Too many year-gaps may exaggerate or skew the chart.

Counts for the current year (2025) are pro-rated based on data available up to month 8 (August) to provide a full-year equivalent.

Purple line rises = years better than average; falls = years worse than average.
Peak (best year) Trough (worst year) Growth periods Decline periods
Population peaked around 2004, reaching above average levels. The lowest population point occurred near 2024, showing a significant decline.

What the Y-axis "Cumulative Deviation" means: Cumulative Deviation shows the running total of how each year’s moth population count differs from the long-term average. i

Hectad (10kmx10km) Coverage: Pyrausta despicata
( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )

Flight Periods – Indicative –vs– Recorded Data
Pyrausta despicata
( 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 2020-2025.

Records Behind the Map and Charts - Pyrausta despicata – 73 records available

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

Site NameTetradDateCountStageSource
Cromford MoorSK25X21/08/20252adultvc57_irecords_extract
Bradwell Moor, DerbyshireSK18F18/08/20251adultvc57_irecords_extract
Aston-on-Trent, DerbyshireSK43A16/08/20251adultvc57_irecords_extract
Shirland - Hallfieldgate LaneSK35Z15/08/20251adultvc57_irecords_extract
Chaddesden GardenSK33T13/08/20251adultvc57_irecords_extract
upper cromford gardenSK25Y12/08/20251adultvc57_irecords_extract
Shaw Farm, New Mills VCSJ98Y12/08/20251adultvc57_irecords_extract
Chaddesden GardenSK33T11/08/20252adultvc57_irecords_extract
upper cromford gardenSK25Y07/08/20251adultvc57_irecords_extract
Grinlow Woods (east)SK07K17/07/20251adultvc57_irecords_extract
Gang Mine, CromfordSK25X09/07/202510adultvc57_irecords_extract
Carsington PSSK25L09/07/20251adultvc57_irecords_extract
Gang Mine, CromfordSK25X07/07/20257adultvc57_irecords_extract
HathersageSK28F07/07/20251adultvc57_irecords_extract
High Edge WildlandSK06U05/07/20251adultvc57_irecords_extract
Chaddesden GardenSK33T03/07/20251adultvc57_irecords_extract
Chaddesden GardenSK33T24/06/20251adultvc57_irecords_extract
Gang Mine, CromfordSK25X23/06/20251adultvc57_irecords_extract
Chaddesden GardenSK33T21/06/20251adultvc57_irecords_extract
Gang Mine, CromfordSK25X19/06/20256adultvc57_irecords_extract
Gang Mine, CromfordSK25X17/06/20256adultvc57_irecords_extract
Chaddesden GardenSK33T17/06/20251adultvc57_irecords_extract
Chaddesden GardenSK33T14/06/20251adultvc57_irecords_extract
Hay DaleSK17I07/05/20251Adultvc57_irecords_extract
Monks DaleSK17H29/04/20251adultvc57_irecords_extract
BelperSK34N27/07/20241adultvc57_irecords_extract
Longdendale, Woodhead trailSK19E17/05/20242adultvc57_irecords_extract
Derbyshire, UKSK17S27/04/20241Adultvc57_irecords_extract
Glossop, Hague Street, Hay meadowSK09G29/07/20231adultvc57_irecords_extract
Chinley Local Nature ReserveSK08G28/07/20232minevc57_irecords_extract
Glossop, Bray CloughSK09L25/07/20231adultvc57_irecords_extract
Wirksworth Stone CentreSK25X23/07/20231adultvc57_irecords_extract
Ninelands RoadSK28F17/07/20231adultvc57_irecords_extract
Derbyshire, UKSK07X28/07/20221Adultvc57_irecords_extract
Waterswallows QuarrySK07X28/07/20221adultvc57_irecords_extract
Hoe Grange Quarry, DerbysSK25I03/07/20221adultvc57_irecords_extract
Grinlow Woods, Derbyshire, UKSK07L19/05/20221Adultvc57_irecords_extract
Derbyshire, England, United KingdomSK17Q14/05/20221Adultvc57_irecords_extract
Grinlow, Derbyshire, UKSK07K20/07/20211Adultvc57_irecords_extract
Shirland - Hallfieldgate LaneSK35Z09/07/20211adultvc57_irecords_extract
Hoe Grange Quarry, DerbyshireSK25I07/07/20211adultvc57_irecords_extract
Derbyshire, England, United KingdomSK17I02/07/20211Adultvc57_irecords_extract
Hay DaleSK17I02/07/20211adultvc57_irecords_extract
The Mays, Malthouse Lane, FroggattSK27N24/08/20201adultDanes_2019-2021
Dam DaleSK17D10/08/20201adultvc57_irecords_extract
HathersageSK28F17/07/20201adultvc57_irecords_extract
Ladycroft Ave, BuxtonSK07S30/06/20201adultvc57_irecords_extract
Hathersage, Derbyshire, UKSK28F25/07/20191adultvc57_irecords_extract
Longstone EdgeSK17W06/07/20191adultvc57_irecords_extract
Hopton QuarrySK25T20/05/20181not recordedvc57_irecords_extract
Bonsall Moor, BonsallSK25T28/05/20121Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
DovedaleSK15K01/08/20111Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
DovedaleSK15K11/07/20112Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
DovedaleSK15K11/07/20111Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Lots Lane (nth field), LongcliffeSK25H06/07/20111Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Dovedale, Lin DaleSK15K15/08/20101adultvc57_irecords_extract
Dovedale (Lin Dale)SK15K15/08/20101Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
DovedaleSK15K30/07/20101Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Dovedale (stepping stones)SK15K30/07/20101Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
DovedaleSK15K30/07/20101Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
DovedaleSK15K30/07/20101Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
DovedaleSK15K30/07/20101Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Biggin Dale, nr HartingtonSK15P28/07/20101Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Biggin Dale, nr HartingtonSK15P28/07/20101Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Biggin Dale, nr HartingtonSK15P28/07/20101Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
DovedaleSK15K25/07/20101Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
DovedaleSK15K25/07/20101Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Bonsall Mines,CromfordSK25T12/07/20091Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Long Dale (Mouldridge Grange), PikehallSK25E28/07/20061Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Bonsall MoorSK25T19/07/20043Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Ivy Cottage, YoulgreaveSK26C28/07/19981Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Ivy Cottage, YoulgreaveSK26C26/07/19981Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Clough Wood,Darley DaleSK26K19/06/19052Adultvc57_danes_bc_data

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