– click for General Verification Guidelines | – click for Specific Verification Guidelines 
– Uncertain/Unknown – Insufficient Data
– 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.
*** Last updated on 2 October 2025 by RP ***
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©
Image Gallery
No gallery images found for this moth.
Distribution Map for Pyrausta despicata
Found 73 records
↳ 25 from After 2025
↳ 22 from 2020 - 2024
↳ 26 from Before 2020
↳ 25 from After 2025
↳ 22 from 2020 - 2024
↳ 26 from Before 2020
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
⚠️ Please wait for the map to load fully – do not click the link shown.
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:
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
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 Name | Tetrad | Date | Count | Stage | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cromford Moor | SK25X | 21/08/2025 | 2 | adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| Bradwell Moor, Derbyshire | SK18F | 18/08/2025 | 1 | adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| Aston-on-Trent, Derbyshire | SK43A | 16/08/2025 | 1 | adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| Shirland - Hallfieldgate Lane | SK35Z | 15/08/2025 | 1 | adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| Chaddesden Garden | SK33T | 13/08/2025 | 1 | adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| upper cromford garden | SK25Y | 12/08/2025 | 1 | adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| Shaw Farm, New Mills VC | SJ98Y | 12/08/2025 | 1 | adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| Chaddesden Garden | SK33T | 11/08/2025 | 2 | adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| upper cromford garden | SK25Y | 07/08/2025 | 1 | adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| Grinlow Woods (east) | SK07K | 17/07/2025 | 1 | adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| Gang Mine, Cromford | SK25X | 09/07/2025 | 10 | adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| Carsington PS | SK25L | 09/07/2025 | 1 | adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| Gang Mine, Cromford | SK25X | 07/07/2025 | 7 | adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| Hathersage | SK28F | 07/07/2025 | 1 | adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| High Edge Wildland | SK06U | 05/07/2025 | 1 | adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| Chaddesden Garden | SK33T | 03/07/2025 | 1 | adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| Chaddesden Garden | SK33T | 24/06/2025 | 1 | adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| Gang Mine, Cromford | SK25X | 23/06/2025 | 1 | adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| Chaddesden Garden | SK33T | 21/06/2025 | 1 | adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| Gang Mine, Cromford | SK25X | 19/06/2025 | 6 | adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| Gang Mine, Cromford | SK25X | 17/06/2025 | 6 | adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| Chaddesden Garden | SK33T | 17/06/2025 | 1 | adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| Chaddesden Garden | SK33T | 14/06/2025 | 1 | adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| Hay Dale | SK17I | 07/05/2025 | 1 | Adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| Monks Dale | SK17H | 29/04/2025 | 1 | adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| Belper | SK34N | 27/07/2024 | 1 | adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| Longdendale, Woodhead trail | SK19E | 17/05/2024 | 2 | adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| Derbyshire, UK | SK17S | 27/04/2024 | 1 | Adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| Glossop, Hague Street, Hay meadow | SK09G | 29/07/2023 | 1 | adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| Chinley Local Nature Reserve | SK08G | 28/07/2023 | 2 | mine | vc57_irecords_extract |
| Glossop, Bray Clough | SK09L | 25/07/2023 | 1 | adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| Wirksworth Stone Centre | SK25X | 23/07/2023 | 1 | adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| Ninelands Road | SK28F | 17/07/2023 | 1 | adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| Derbyshire, UK | SK07X | 28/07/2022 | 1 | Adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| Waterswallows Quarry | SK07X | 28/07/2022 | 1 | adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| Hoe Grange Quarry, Derbys | SK25I | 03/07/2022 | 1 | adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| Grinlow Woods, Derbyshire, UK | SK07L | 19/05/2022 | 1 | Adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| Derbyshire, England, United Kingdom | SK17Q | 14/05/2022 | 1 | Adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| Grinlow, Derbyshire, UK | SK07K | 20/07/2021 | 1 | Adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| Shirland - Hallfieldgate Lane | SK35Z | 09/07/2021 | 1 | adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| Hoe Grange Quarry, Derbyshire | SK25I | 07/07/2021 | 1 | adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| Derbyshire, England, United Kingdom | SK17I | 02/07/2021 | 1 | Adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| Hay Dale | SK17I | 02/07/2021 | 1 | adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| The Mays, Malthouse Lane, Froggatt | SK27N | 24/08/2020 | 1 | adult | Danes_2019-2021 |
| Dam Dale | SK17D | 10/08/2020 | 1 | adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| Hathersage | SK28F | 17/07/2020 | 1 | adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| Ladycroft Ave, Buxton | SK07S | 30/06/2020 | 1 | adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| Hathersage, Derbyshire, UK | SK28F | 25/07/2019 | 1 | adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| Longstone Edge | SK17W | 06/07/2019 | 1 | adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| Hopton Quarry | SK25T | 20/05/2018 | 1 | not recorded | vc57_irecords_extract |
| Bonsall Moor, Bonsall | SK25T | 28/05/2012 | 1 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Dovedale | SK15K | 01/08/2011 | 1 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Dovedale | SK15K | 11/07/2011 | 2 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Dovedale | SK15K | 11/07/2011 | 1 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Lots Lane (nth field), Longcliffe | SK25H | 06/07/2011 | 1 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Dovedale, Lin Dale | SK15K | 15/08/2010 | 1 | adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| Dovedale (Lin Dale) | SK15K | 15/08/2010 | 1 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Dovedale | SK15K | 30/07/2010 | 1 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Dovedale (stepping stones) | SK15K | 30/07/2010 | 1 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Dovedale | SK15K | 30/07/2010 | 1 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Dovedale | SK15K | 30/07/2010 | 1 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Dovedale | SK15K | 30/07/2010 | 1 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Biggin Dale, nr Hartington | SK15P | 28/07/2010 | 1 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Biggin Dale, nr Hartington | SK15P | 28/07/2010 | 1 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Biggin Dale, nr Hartington | SK15P | 28/07/2010 | 1 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Dovedale | SK15K | 25/07/2010 | 1 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Dovedale | SK15K | 25/07/2010 | 1 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Bonsall Mines,Cromford | SK25T | 12/07/2009 | 1 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Long Dale (Mouldridge Grange), Pikehall | SK25E | 28/07/2006 | 1 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Bonsall Moor | SK25T | 19/07/2004 | 3 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Ivy Cottage, Youlgreave | SK26C | 28/07/1998 | 1 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Ivy Cottage, Youlgreave | SK26C | 26/07/1998 | 1 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Clough Wood,Darley Dale | SK26K | 19/06/1905 | 2 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |