63.121 BF1329 – Pale Water-veneer – Donacaula forficella – (Thunberg, 1794)
Adult Micro: CAT 1 – Distinctive species unlikely to be confused with others –
– click for General Verification Guidelines | – click for Specific Verification Guidelines
– click for General Verification Guidelines | – click for Specific Verification Guidelines 
– Rare / Uncommon / Scarce
– easy to identify, generally distinctive and unlikely to be confused with other species.ID pointers: Male forewing is a pale straw yellow with a black dot at around two-thirds. The female is usually larger than the male. There is a brownish longitudinal streak that runs below the costa and a dark subapical streak, curving to meet the forewing apex.
Distribution: (Last record: 12 June 2024 at Long Eaton ) – According to the 1986 publication of Micro Moths in Derbyshire by Harrison and Sterling, this species was described as very rare, with evidence that it was hanging on in southern wetlands. Only appears to be a handful of records, with two in the 1800’s and a record in 1973 & 1981. This one on 27/6/2005 maybe the first since 1981.
General Comment: None *** Last updated on 2 October 2025 by RP ***
Last Recorded Year: 2024
Last Recorded By – Marion Bryce
Last Recorded General Area – Long Eaton
Selected Images: Kings Newton, Derbyshire – Image by Will Soar©
Image Gallery
No gallery images found for this moth.
Temporal Distribution Chart
Adults: (between 1997 - 2025)
(click legend below to show/hide datasets)
Distribution Map for Donacaula forficella
Found 30 records
↳ from 2026+
↳ 14 from 2020 - 2025
↳ 16 from Before 2020
↳ from 2026+
↳ 14 from 2020 - 2025
↳ 16 from Before 2020
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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 – Donacaula forficella
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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.
Monthly Records By Year:
Donacaula forficella
( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )
Monthly Counts By Year:
Donacaula forficella
( data is based on 'Adult' stage records only )
First/Last Recorded Dates: Donacaula forficella
Adult-only & Anything [Larvae, Pupae, Adult, Mines]
Shading shows moth presence between dates
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Recordings By Year: Donacaula forficella
( All data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )
Annual Growth Rate (AGR): Donacaula forficella
AGR: 0% | Total % Change: 0%
Hectad (10kmx10km) Coverage: Donacaula forficella
( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )
Flight Periods – Indicative –vs– Recorded Data
Donacaula forficella
Donacaula forficella
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 - Donacaula forficella – 30 records available
Listed by Year - descending - scroll across to see all table columns
| Site Name | Tetrad | Date | Count | Stage | Recorder | Source | RecordKey |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Belper | SK34U | 10/07/2025 | 1 | adult | Evans, Dave | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC43292507 |
| Stonebroom. | SK45E | 30/05/2025 | 1 | adult | Bradley, Jonathan | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC41990180 |
| Sandiacre Garden | SK43T | 20/07/2024 | 1 | adult | Milnes, Emily | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC40192385 |
| West Park Fox Covert LNR | SK43W | 12/06/2024 | 1 | adult | Bryce, Marion | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC36400432 |
| Woodland Ave | SK43R | 07/07/2023 | 1 | adult | Thorpe, Steve | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC33496682 |
| Staveley Derbyshire | SK47H | 11/06/2023 | 1 | adult | Morris, Sid | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC30834705 |
| Woodland Ave | SK43R | 23/08/2022 | 1 | adult | Thorpe, Steve | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC33495004 |
| Woodland Ave | SK43R | 16/07/2022 | 1 | Adult | Thorpe, Steve | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC27846489 |
| Long Eaton , Wensleydale Road | SK43R | 16/06/2022 | 1 | adult | Bryce, Marion | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC25842823 |
| Findern, Derbyshire, DEAZ | SK33A | 19/07/2021 | 1 | adult | Brian and Jean Hallam | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC35165406 |
| Not given | SK43W | 09/07/2021 | 1 | Adult | Bryce, Marion | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC20963075 |
| Woodland Ave | SK43R | 02/07/2021 | 2 | adult | Thorpe, Steve | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC33498564 |
| Wood Lane, Newhall, Swadlincote | SK22V | 26/06/2020 | 1 | Adult | BUDWORTH, Mr D. | Danes_2019-2021 | 613 |
| Woodland Ave | SK43R | 24/06/2020 | 1 | adult | Thorpe, Steve | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC33501145 |
| Lang Rd, Alvaston, Derby | SK33R | 24/07/2019 | 1 | adult | GASH, Mr M. | Danes_2019-2021 | 1253 |
| Toton Fields LNR | SK43X | 01/09/2018 | 1 | adult | Bryce, Marion | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC7788516 |
| Woodhouse Wash lands NR | SK48H | 18/08/2016 | 3 | Adult | Ben Keywood | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC11546799 |
| Woodhouse Washlands | SK48H | 18/08/2016 | 3 | Adult | Keywood, Ben | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC12135212 |
| Trent Lock | SK43V | 16/07/2016 | 2 | Adult | Bryce, Marion | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC3679577 |
| Backgarden Marehay | SK34Z | 25/07/2014 | 1 | adult | Thorpe, Steve | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC33507377 |
| Drakelow NR (Minton's Lagoon), Burton on Trent | SK22F | 29/06/2013 | 1 | Adult | M.J. Williams | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001CP8VM |
| Duffield Rd, Allestree, Derby | SK34K | 26/07/2012 | 1 | Adult | P. Smith | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001CP882 |
| Main Street, Kings Newton | SK32Y | 25/07/2012 | 1 | Adult | Soar, Will | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC34677330 |
| Main St,Kings Newton,Melbourne | SK32Y | 25/07/2012 | 1 | Adult | Soar, Will | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001CP866 |
| Main Street, Kings Newton | SK32Y | 27/06/2005 | 1 | Adult | Soar, Will | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC34677329 |
| Main St,Kings Newton,Melbourne | SK32Y | 27/06/2005 | 1 | Adult | Soar, Will | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001CORIR |
| Ticknall Limeyards, Calke Park | SK32R | 17/06/2005 | 1 | Adult | Soar, Will | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC34677328 |
| Ticknall Limeyards,Ticknall | SK32R | 17/06/2005 | 1 | Adult | Dave Budworth;A. Davison;N.J. Ward;W. Soar | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001CP2I5 |
| Midway Rd,Midway,Swadlincote | SK32A | 21/07/2004 | 1 | Adult | M.J. Williams | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001CORBG |
| Wilmot St, Sawley, Long Eaton | SK43R | 29/07/1997 | 1 | Adult | A. Braddock | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001COZMR |