73.200 BF2235  –  Noctuidae –  Xyleninae – Lithophane semibrunnea – Tawny Pinion – (Haworth, 1809) 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
ID Difficulty:  amber  – care required in the identification process, as confusion with similar species is likely – quality photographs required.
Confusion Species:  Pale Pinion
ID pointers: Looks remarkably like a piece of plant stem, twig or tree bark. Has same flight time and habits as Pale Pinion, which needs to be carefully eliminated, especially dark forms.. The key feature is a tawny and blackish coloured tornal spot on the trailing edge of the forewing. A dark honey coloured crest on top of the head and narrow appearance to the wings with a straighter leading edge than Pale Pinion, with a less arched costa.
Distribution:  (First record: 31 October 1986 )  –  (Last record: 31 March 2025 at Darwin Forest, Matlock )  –  Danes shows 45 records between 1986 -2013. IRecord shows 1 record in 2009 and 6 records 2020 – 2025. It was also recorded in 2006 from South Wood, Calke Estate. The species is only record in very small numbers each year and remains a rare moth within the recording area.
Flight Period: March /  April /  May /  October /  November /  –  On the wing October – November and March – May. Moth Activity: Nocturnal   – and is attracted to light Photographed: Yes –  Photographed By: Brian Hallam, Dave Evans, David Knass:  © All Rights Reserved
*** Last updated on 21 July 2025 by WS ***
Wingspan: 40-44mm
Forewing: 16-20mm
Food Plant: Ash (Fraxinus excelsior).
Last Recorded Year: 2025
First Recorded Year: 1986
Last Recorded By – Dave Evans
Last Recorded General Area – Darwin Forest, Matlock

IMAGES BELOW:  

Findern – Brian Hallam© / Darwin Forest (2025) Dave Evans©/ Belper (2023)(2024) Dave Evans© Mellor© (2024) David Knass©

Distribution Map for Lithophane semibrunnea

Found 51 records
    ↳ 2 from After 2025
    ↳ 5 from 2020 - 2024
    ↳ 44 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.

******* Choose ONLY one at a time, of either Monad, Tetrad or Hectad Distribution - each has it's own set of data. Also, the distribution maps cover ALL recorded data. *******

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.

Land-cover * shows the variety of land-cover within the VC57 area, based on the CORINE (Coordination of Information on the Environment) forty-four thematic classes of land-cover. This will show, to a greater or lesser degree, the number and variety of moths found in different land-cover types. The UK continues to operate within the Copernicus programme, with the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH) providing Corine Land Cover (CLC) datasets for the UK and its territories.


NBN Atlas UK Distribution for – Lithophane semibrunnea

⚠️ 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.

Visit NBN Site


Monthly Records By Year: Lithophane semibrunnea
( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )

Monthly Counts By Year: Lithophane semibrunnea
( data is based on 'Adult' stage records only. )


First/Last Recorded Dates: Lithophane semibrunnea
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: Lithophane semibrunnea
( All data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )
Annual Growth Rate (AGR): Lithophane semibrunnea
AGR: 0%   |   Total % Change: 0%


CUSUM Analysis: Lithophane semibrunnea
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 14 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 7 (July) 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 2025, reaching above average levels. The lowest population point occurred near 2023, 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: Lithophane semibrunnea
( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )

Flight Periods – Indicative –vs– Recorded Data
Lithophane semibrunnea
( 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 - Lithophane semibrunnea – 51 records available

Listed by Year - descending - scroll across to see all table columns

TaxonSite NameTetradYearDateCountStageSource
Lithophane semibrunneaInkersall gardenSK47G202518/04/20251adultvc57_irecords_extract
Lithophane semibrunneaDarwin ForestSK26X202531/03/20251adultvc57_irecords_extract
Lithophane semibrunneaMellorSJ98Z202403/04/20241adultvc57_irecords_extract
Lithophane semibrunneaIlkeston, DerbyshireSK44K202405/04/20242adultvc57_irecords_extract
Lithophane semibrunneaBelperSK34N202418/03/20241adultvc57_irecords_extract
Lithophane semibrunneaBelperSK34U202318/05/20231adultvc57_irecords_extract
Lithophane semibrunneaFindern, Derbyshire, DEAZSK33A202020/05/20201adultvc57_irecords_extract
Lithophane semibrunneaLancaster Ave,SandiacreSK43S201129/09/20111Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Lithophane semibrunneaHardhurst Rd, Alvaston, DerbySK33W201006/04/20101Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Lithophane semibrunneaDrayton Ave,Mackworth,DerbySK33D200913/11/20091Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Lithophane semibrunneaDrayton Ave,Mackworth,DerbySK33D200913/11/20091Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Lithophane semibrunneanr Derwent Arms,WhatstandwellSK35H200929/10/20091Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Lithophane semibrunneaWilmot St,Long EatonSK43R200926/09/20091Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Lithophane semibrunneaOaks Barn Cottage, Monyash Rd, Over Haddon, BakewellSK26D200930/09/20091Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Lithophane semibrunneaMain Street, Kings NewtonSK32Y200920/03/20091Adultvc57_irecords_extract
Lithophane semibrunneaDrayton Ave,Mackworth,DerbySK33D200918/03/20091Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Lithophane semibrunneaDrayton Ave,Mackworth,DerbySK33D200918/03/20091Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Lithophane semibrunneaOver Haddon (Church), BakewellSK26D200822/10/20081Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Lithophane semibrunneaBakewell (Shutts Lane)SK26D200806/10/20081Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Lithophane semibrunneaLowes Hill,RipleySK35V200706/10/20071Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Lithophane semibrunneaThe Hollies,Station Rd,Darley DaleSK26R200722/05/20071Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Lithophane semibrunneaSouth Wood, Calke, TicknallSK32Q200610/10/20061Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Lithophane semibrunneaLowes Hill,RipleySK35V200613/10/20061Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Lithophane semibrunneaBack Lane,GlapwellSK46T200314/09/20031Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Lithophane semibrunneaAult Hucknall,GlapwellSK46S200013/10/20001Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Lithophane semibrunneaAult Hucknall,GlapwellSK46S200020/10/20001Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Lithophane semibrunneaAult Hucknall,GlapwellSK46S200029/09/20001Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Lithophane semibrunneaSchool Close,Parkway Gardens,Darley DaleSK26R200002/05/20001Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Lithophane semibrunneaIlkeston (Court House)SK44Q200012/03/20001Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Lithophane semibrunneaIlkeston (Court House)SK44Q200012/03/20001Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Lithophane semibrunneaMargaret Ave, IlkestonSK44Q199711/10/19971Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Lithophane semibrunneaMargaret Ave, IlkestonSK44Q199711/10/19971Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Lithophane semibrunneaFar Cross,Cavendish Park,MatlockSK36A199617/11/19961Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Lithophane semibrunneaFar Cross,Cavendish Park,MatlockSK36A199622/10/19961Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Lithophane semibrunneaStocksmoor Farm, Ashover Rd, Old TuptonSK36S199627/09/19961Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Lithophane semibrunneaBaslow (site not precise)SK27L199512/11/19951Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Lithophane semibrunneaFar Cross,Cavendish Park,MatlockSK36A199523/10/19951Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Lithophane semibrunneaDeerlands Rd, Ashgate, ChesterfieldSK37K199507/09/19951Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Lithophane semibrunneaStoneleah, Alfreton Rd, Little EatonSK34R199525/04/19951Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Lithophane semibrunneaEgginton (Fish Pond Lane), Burton on TrentSK22U199427/10/19941Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Lithophane semibrunneaDerby Carriage Works, London Rd, DerbySK33S199422/02/19941Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Lithophane semibrunneaEgginton (Fish Pond Lane), Burton on TrentSK22U199301/10/19933Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Lithophane semibrunneaIronville Forge, AlfretonSK45K199315/04/19931Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Lithophane semibrunneaFernhill Rd, MellorSJ98U199330/03/19931Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Lithophane semibrunneaThe Drey, A Sitwell St, SpondonSK33X199318/03/19931Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Lithophane semibrunneaWilmot St, Sawley, Long EatonSK43R199202/10/19921Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Lithophane semibrunneaFar Cross,Cavendish Park,MatlockSK36A199228/09/19921Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Lithophane semibrunneaLang Rd, Alvaston, DerbySK33R199228/09/19921Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Lithophane semibrunneaParkway, New MillsSK08D199008/10/19901Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Lithophane semibrunneaWilmot St, Sawley, Long EatonSK43R198825/10/19881Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Lithophane semibrunneaElvaston Park, Derby (site not precise)SK43B198631/10/19861Adultvc57_danes_bc_data

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