73.207 BF2233 - Golden-rod Brindle - Noctuidae - Xylena solidaginis
73.207 BF2233  – Golden-rod Brindle  – Xylena solidaginis  – (Hübner, 1803)
Adult Macro:  CAT 1 – Distinctive species unlikely to be confused with others –      
PDF Icon – click for Adult Macro Verification Guidelines

Blue –  Generally Common / Widespread   
Taxonomy:   Macro  >>.  >>  Noctuidae  >> Xyleninae
ID Difficulty:  green  – easy to identify, generally distinctive and unlikely to be confused with other species.
ID pointers: A characteristic “Crashed Aircraft” posture at rest, with wings folded around the body. This distinctive moth closely resembles a broken twig. A cold grey and whitish forewing. A large and prominent kidney mark. The outer most cross-band contains several black arrow head markings. Some have an obvious dark central band.
Distribution:  A resident that is locally common and widely distributed on the upland gritstone moors of North Derbyshire, where it is restricted as a moorland species in the county. Under recorded.
General Comment: None
Flight Period: August /  September –  On the wing August – September Moth Activity: Nocturnal  Photographed: Yes –  Photographed By: Christian Heintzen  © All Rights Reserved
*** Last updated on 22 January 2026 by TD ***
Wingspan: 45-51mm
Forewing: 18-21mm
Food Plant: Heather (Calluna), Bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus).
Specific Recorded History Dates for Common [Blue code Blue-coded] moths is not displayed/updated in this tab. However, all verified records for this moth are listed in the RECORDS tab below.

Selected Images: 

Wildboar Clough, Longdendale, Derbyshire – August 2023 – Christian Heintzen© / Glossop (Aug 2025) – Christian Heintzen©



Temporal Distribution Chart
Adults: (between 1957 - 2025)  |  Immatures: (between 1971 - 1971)
(click legend below to show/hide datasets)
This chart summarises all available historical occurrence records collated by ISO week of the year. It reflects recorder effort and sampling distribution as well as true biological activity, and should be interpreted as an indicative pattern of seasonal occurrence rather than a statistically controlled abundance or phenology model.

Distribution Map for Xylena solidaginis

Found 33 records
    ↳ from 2026+
    ↳ 9 from 2020 - 2025
    ↳ 24 from Before 2020
Flying
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

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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 – Xylena solidaginis

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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.

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Monthly Records By Year: Xylena solidaginis
( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )

Monthly Counts By Year: Xylena solidaginis
( data is based on 'Adult' stage records only )

First/Last Recorded Dates: Xylena solidaginis
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: Xylena solidaginis
( All data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )
Annual Growth Rate (AGR): Xylena solidaginis
AGR: 6.68%   |   Total % Change: 200%

Hectad (10kmx10km) Coverage: Xylena solidaginis
( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )

Flight Periods – Indicative –vs– Recorded Data
Xylena solidaginis

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 - Xylena solidaginis – 33 records available

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

Site Name Tetrad Date Count Stage Recorder Source RecordKey
Glossop, Moorfield, Wood's Cabin SK09L 24/08/2025 1 adult Heintzen, Christian vc57_irecords_extract iBRC48746887
Glossop, Bray Clough SK09K 11/08/2025 5 adult Heintzen, Christian vc57_irecords_extract iBRC48740185
Glossop, The Twitchlings SK09K 26/08/2024 1 adult Heintzen, Christian vc57_irecords_extract iBRC38473408
Glossop, Upper Bray Clough SK09K 10/08/2024 1 adult Heintzen, Christian vc57_irecords_extract iBRC38473005
Glossop, Gnat Hole Rough Fields SK09L 07/08/2024 1 adult Heintzen, Christian vc57_irecords_extract iBRC38472935
Glossop, Upper Bray Clough SK09K 27/08/2023 10 adult Heintzen, Christian vc57_irecords_extract iBRC36337532
Glossop, Moorfield, Wood's Cabin SK09L 25/08/2023 3 adult Heintzen, Christian vc57_irecords_extract iBRC36337495
Glossop, Gnat Hole Rough Fields SK09L 21/08/2023 1 adult Heintzen, Christian vc57_irecords_extract iBRC36337403
Glossop, Black Moor (m altitude) SK09Q 15/08/2023 2 adult Heintzen, Christian vc57_irecords_extract iBRC36337293
Birch Vale SK08I 05/08/2019 2 adult Hewitt, Jane vc57_irecords_extract iBRC35073106
Lightwood SK07M 30/08/2016 1 adult Orridge, Steve vc57_irecords_extract iBRC41052304
Glossop (Shire Hill Quarry) SK09M 01/09/2008 1 Adult Colin Plant vc57_danes_bc_data LC000334001OK0QE
The Field,Shipley,Ilkeston SK44M 17/08/1995 1 Adult T. Duro vc57_danes_bc_data LC000334001OIZE6
Beeley Moor, Beeley (site not precies) SK26Z 14/08/1994 12 Adult B.L. Statham vc57_danes_bc_data LC000334001OHMLF
White Brow (woodland), Hayfield SK08P 11/08/1994 1 Adult VC57 Derbyshire Recorder vc57_danes_bc_data LC000334001OHMKS
Slagmill Plantation, Beeley Moor (site not precise) SK36E 31/08/1991 1 Adult A. Jenkins vc57_danes_bc_data LC000334001OIVNV
Beeley Moor, Beeley (site not precies) SK26Z 25/08/1991 1 Adult A. Jenkins vc57_danes_bc_data LC000334001OIVMD
Beeley Moor, Beeley (site not precies) SK26Z 26/08/1990 1 Adult VC57 Derbyshire Recorder vc57_danes_bc_data LC000334001OIUYD
Beeley Moor, Beeley (site not precies) SK26Z 22/08/1982 2 Adult VC57 Derbyshire Recorder vc57_danes_bc_data LC000334001OIAHF
Slagmill Plantation,Beeley Moor SK36E 01/09/1979 2 Adult VC57 Derbyshire Recorder vc57_danes_bc_data LC000334001OILY1
Slagmill Plantation,Beeley Moor SK36E 29/08/1979 3 Adult VC57 Derbyshire Recorder vc57_danes_bc_data LC000334001OHGMY
Beeley Moor, Beeley (site not precies) SK26Z 01/09/1973 2 Adult VC57 Derbyshire Recorder vc57_danes_bc_data LC000334001OIICA
Whitesprings, Darley Dale (site not precise) SK26R 20/06/1971 1 Larvae VC57 Derbyshire Recorder vc57_danes_bc_data LC000334001OHET6
Whitesprings, Darley Dale (site not precise) SK26R 20/06/1971 1 Larvae B. Elliott;B.F. Skinner vc57_danes_bc_data LC000334001WQ9XE
Wragg's Quarry,Rowsley Moor SK26Y 31/08/1968 6 Adult VC57 Derbyshire Recorder vc57_danes_bc_data LC000334001OIHLN
Beeley Moor, Beeley (site not precies) SK26Z 10/08/1968 1 Adult VC57 Derbyshire Recorder vc57_danes_bc_data LC000334001OHW30
Gladwin's Mark, Beeley Moor SK36D 10/09/1960 1 Adult VC57 Derbyshire Recorder vc57_danes_bc_data LC000334001OIGV7
Gladwin's Mark, Beeley Moor SK36D 20/08/1960 1 Adult VC57 Derbyshire Recorder vc57_danes_bc_data LC000334001OIGUG
Moorend, Beeley, Matlock SK26T 01/09/1959 2 Adult VC57 Derbyshire Recorder vc57_danes_bc_data LC000334001OIGFI
Beeley Moor, Beeley (site not precies) SK26Z 15/08/1959 2 Adult VC57 Derbyshire Recorder vc57_danes_bc_data LC000334001OHVMD
Sydnope Hall, Two Dales, Matlock SK26Z 31/08/1957 1 Adult R. Hawksworth vc57_danes_bc_data LC000334001OHEXE
Wragg's Quarry,Rowsley Moor SK26Y 18/08/1957 1 Adult R. Hawksworth vc57_danes_bc_data LC000334001OHDPA
Beeley Moor, Beeley (site not precies) SK26Z 15/08/1957 1 Adult R. Hawksworth vc57_danes_bc_data LC000334001OJHQT

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