73.124 BF2362  –  Noctuidae –  Xyleninae – Hydraecia petasitis – The Butterbur Adult Macro:  CAT 2 – Can be confused with other species – Can be confused with other species       PDF Icon – click for Adult Macro Verification Guidelines

Green –  Rare / Uncommon / Scarce   
Taxonomy:   Macro  >> .  . >>  Noctuidae  >> Xyleninae
** Photograph required **
ID Difficulty:  amber  – care required in the identification process, as confusion with similar species is likely – quality photographs required.
Confusion Species:  Rosy Rustic
ID pointers: Similar to Rosy Rustic but slightly bigger. Broad dark central band on pointed forewing, but brown rather than pinkish as in Rosy Rustic.
Distribution:  (Last record: 26 March 2003 at Etherow CP )  –  An uncommon species and locally distributed in Derbyshire. Likely to be found wherever the food plant has been long established. The adult insect rarely comes too light.
Flight Period: August /  September /  –  On the wing August – September Moth Activity: Nocturnal   – and is attracted to light Photographed: No –  Photographed By: Not Recorded
*** Last updated on 6 May 2025 by RP ***
Wingspan: 44-50mm
Forewing: 19-23mm
Food Plant: Roots of Butterbur (Petasites hybridus).
Last Recorded By – Dave Higginson-Tranter
Last Recorded General Area – Etherow CP

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Distribution Map for Hydraecia petasitis

derbyshiremoths.org © makes no guarantee of accuracy of data used in these maps and charts – they are presented to you with best endeavours and the data behind them updated periodically as time permits. Historic records are being discovered all the time. These will be assessed, so once they are all verified, they will be incorporated onto the map and charts.

Found 18 records
    ↳ 0 from After 2025
    ↳ 0 from 2020 - 2024
    ↳ 18 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.


Monthly Records By Year: Hydraecia petasitis
No data returned from the database.

Monthly Counts By Year: Hydraecia petasitis

Recordings By Year: Hydraecia petasitis

Hydraecia petasitis
Insufficient records/data for a trend analysis
Years Analysed: 2000 – 2024

Hectad (10kmx10km) Coverage: Hydraecia petasitis

Flight Periods – Indicative –vs– Recorded Data
Hydraecia petasitis

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 - Hydraecia petasitis – 18 records available

Listed by Year - descending

TaxonSite NameTetradYearDateCountStage
Hydraecia petasitisParkway, New MillsSK08D199529/08/19951Adult
Hydraecia petasitisParkway, New MillsSK08D199010/09/19901Adult
Hydraecia petasitisParkway, New MillsSK08D199009/09/19901Adult
Hydraecia petasitisMeadow Rise, Simmondley, GlossopSK09B198821/09/19881Adult
Hydraecia petasitisMeadow Rise, Simmondley, GlossopSK09B198817/09/19881Adult
Hydraecia petasitisBarlow Brook, Barlow, Chesterfield (site not precise)SK37M197205/07/197220Larvae
Hydraecia petasitisBarlow Brook, Barlow, Chesterfield (site not precise)SK37M197205/07/197220Larvae
Hydraecia petasitisBarlow, Chesterfield (site not precise)SK37M197120/06/19711Larvae
Hydraecia petasitisBarlow, Chesterfield (site not precise)SK37M197120/06/19711Larvae
Hydraecia petasitisBarlow Lees, DronfieldSK37N196820/06/19681Larvae
Hydraecia petasitison A61 btw Dronfield & UnstoneSK37T196814/06/196830Larvae
Hydraecia petasitisCalver (New Bridge)SK27M195008/09/19502Adult
Hydraecia petasitisCalver (site not precise)SK27M194906/09/1949 - 09/09/19495Adult
Hydraecia petasitisCalver (site not precise)SK27M194906/09/1949 - 09/09/19495Adult
Hydraecia petasitisLittle Eaton (site not precise)SK34Q190501/01/1905 - 31/12/19051Adult
Hydraecia petasitisLittle Eaton (site not precise)SK34Q190001/01/1900 - 31/12/19051Adult
Hydraecia petasitisNewton Solney (site not precise)SK22S188801/01/1888 - 31/12/18881Adult
Hydraecia petasitisNewton Solney (site not precise)SK22S188801/01/1888 - 31/12/18881Adult

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