– click for Adult Macro Verification Guidelines
– Rare / Uncommon / Scarce
– care required in the identification process, as confusion with similar species is likely – quality photographs required. ID pointers: Rather pointed forewings which vary in colour from light grey to tawny brown. The central band is pinched in or narrows at the trailing half. Usually reddish with black borders.
Distribution: (Last record: 19 July 2025 at Glossop ) – A resident that is uncommon and confined to the highest altitudes of the Peak Grit area of Derbyshire. Favours high moorland and grassy hillsides with exposed rock.
General Comment: None *** Last updated on 2 October 2025 by RP ***
Forewing: 12-15mm
Last Recorded Year: 2025
Last Recorded By – Christian Heintzen
Last Recorded General Area – Glossop
Selected Images: Photo by kind permission of Rowan Wakefield © – Buxton – 01/08/2022 / Glossop July 2025 – Christian Heintzen©
Image Gallery
No gallery images found for this moth.
Occurrence Distribution From All Available Data (Adult & Immature)
(click legend below to show/hide datasets)
Distribution Map for Xanthorhoe decoloraria
Found 21 records
↳ from 2026+
↳ 1 from 2020 - 2025
↳ 20 from Before 2020
↳ from 2026+
↳ 1 from 2020 - 2025
↳ 20 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 – Xanthorhoe decoloraria
⚠️ 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:
Xanthorhoe decoloraria
( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )
Monthly Counts By Year: Xanthorhoe decoloraria
( data is based on 'Adult' stage records only. )
First/Last Recorded Dates: Xanthorhoe decoloraria
Adult-only & Anything [Larvae, Pupae, Adult, Mines]
Shading shows moth presence between dates
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Recordings By Year: Xanthorhoe decoloraria
( All data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )
Annual Growth Rate (AGR): Xanthorhoe decoloraria
AGR: -2.76% | Total % Change: -28.6%
Hectad (10kmx10km) Coverage: Xanthorhoe decoloraria
( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )
Flight Periods – Indicative –vs– Recorded Data
Xanthorhoe decoloraria
Xanthorhoe decoloraria
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 - Xanthorhoe decoloraria – 21 records available
Listed by Year - descending - scroll across to see all table columns
| Site Name | Tetrad | Date | Count | Stage | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cown Edge Farm unimproved grassland and willow carr | SK09A | 19/07/2025 | 1 | adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| Ladycroft Ave | SK07S | 29/07/2016 | 2 | adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| Macclesfield Rd, Whaley Bridge | SK08A | 03/08/2013 | 1 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Arbor Grove, Buxton | SK07L | 20/07/2013 | 2 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Arbor Grove, Buxton | SK07L | 14/07/2013 | 2 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Arbor Grove, Buxton | SK07L | 06/07/2013 | 1 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Arbor Grove, Buxton | SK07L | 28/06/2013 | 1 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Woodlands, Combs, Chapel en le Frith | SK07P | 18/07/1992 | 1 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Woodlands, Combs, Chapel en le Frith | SK07P | 15/08/1991 | 1 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Upper Booth, Edale | SK08X | 17/08/1980 | 1 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Upper Booth, Edale | SK08X | 14/08/1980 | 1 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Upper Booth, Edale | SK08X | 13/08/1980 | 1 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Upper Booth, Edale | SK08X | 10/08/1980 | 1 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Upper Booth, Edale | SK08X | 09/08/1980 | 2 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Upper Booth, Edale | SK08X | 28/07/1980 | 1 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Upper Booth, Edale | SK08X | 24/07/1980 | 2 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Upper Booth, Edale | SK08X | 29/07/1979 | 1 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Upper Booth, Edale | SK08X | 26/07/1979 | 1 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Upper Booth, Edale | SK08X | 14/08/1978 | 1 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Upper Booth, Edale | SK08X | 10/08/1978 | 1 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Upper Booth, Edale | SK08X | 09/08/1977 | 1 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |