70.128 BF1784 – Pretty Chalk Carpet – Melanthia procellata – ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775)
Adult Macro: CAT 3 – Difficult to identify – Quality set of photographs required – 
– click for Adult Macro Verification Guidelines
– click for Adult Macro Verification Guidelines
– Significant Record / Very Rare / Vagrant
– care required in the identification process, as confusion with similar species is likely – quality photographs required. ID pointers: Chalky-white wings, hence its name. Forewing pattern is diagnostic with the dark brown central cross-band stopping abruptly before the middle of the wing. Also a white blotch is obvious in the central area of the dark brown outer border.
Distribution: (Last record: 20 June 2023 at Belper ) – Latest record away from the known recording site – June 20th 2023 – There is only one know site in South Derbyshire, however, Dave Evans trapped a specimen in his garden trap on 20th June 2023. Just an incredible record of such an isolated and rare species in Derbyshire.
General Comment: Because of the extreme rarity in VC57 of this resident species CAT 3 has been set.
*** Last updated on 12 January 2026 by TD ***
Forewing: 16-18mm
Last Recorded Year: 2023
Last Recorded By – Dave Evans
Last Recorded General Area – Belper
Selected Images: Image kindly provided by Dave Evans ©
Image Gallery
No gallery images found for this moth.
Temporal Distribution Chart
Adults: (between 1969 - 2023)
(click legend below to show/hide datasets)
Distribution Map for Melanthia procellata
Found 11 records
↳ from 2026+
↳ 1 from 2020 - 2025
↳ 10 from Before 2020
↳ from 2026+
↳ 1 from 2020 - 2025
↳ 10 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 – Melanthia procellata
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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:
Melanthia procellata
( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )
Monthly Counts By Year:
Melanthia procellata
( data is based on 'Adult' stage records only )
First/Last Recorded Dates: Melanthia procellata
Adult-only & Anything [Larvae, Pupae, Adult, Mines]
Shading shows moth presence between dates
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Recordings By Year: Melanthia procellata
( All data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )
Annual Growth Rate (AGR): Melanthia procellata
AGR: -3.78% | Total % Change: -50%
Hectad (10kmx10km) Coverage: Melanthia procellata
( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )
Flight Periods – Indicative –vs– Recorded Data
Melanthia procellata
Melanthia procellata
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 - Melanthia procellata – 11 records available
Listed by Year - descending - scroll across to see all table columns
| Site Name | Tetrad | Date | Count | Stage | Recorder | Source | RecordKey |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Belper | SK34U | 20/06/2023 | 1 | adult | Evans, Dave | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC35295436 |
| Main St,Ticknall | SK32R | 23/07/2008 | 1 | Adult | M. Turner | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001OJKOU |
| Main St,Ticknall | SK32R | 01/08/2006 | 1 | Adult | M. Turner | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001OHU03 |
| Main St,Ticknall | SK32R | 24/07/2006 | 2 | Adult | M. Turner | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001OJEKE |
| Main St,Ticknall | SK32R | 24/07/2005 | 2 | Adult | M. Turner | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001OI6JP |
| Ticknall Limeyards,Ticknall | SK32R | 20/06/1998 | 6 | Adult | BUDWORTH, Mr D., VILES, Mr I.M., TRAVERS-AYRE, Mr | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001OIBRL |
| Ticknall Limeyards (Open area), Ticknall | SK32L | 24/06/1997 | 1 | Adult | VC57 Derbyshire Recorder | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001OI2ZR |
| Ticknall Limeyards,Ticknall | SK32R | 14/06/1997 | 2 | Adult | VC57 Derbyshire Recorder | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001OIEWK |
| Ticknall Limeyards,Ticknall | SK32R | 11/06/1997 | 1 | Adult | VC57 Derbyshire Recorder | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001OIEW2 |
| Ticknall Limeyards, Ticknall (site not precise) | SK32L | 29/06/1982 | 1 | Adult | VC57 Derbyshire Recorder | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001OHHWL |
| Welbeck Rd, Bolsover | SK47Q | 01/08/1969 | 1 | Adult | M.E. Bradley | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001OHW59 |