73.215 BF2316  – Lesser-spotted Pinion – Cosmia affinis – (Linnaeus, 1767) Adult Macro:  CAT 2 – Can be confused with other species – Good photographs maybe required – 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:  Lunar-spotted Pinion
ID pointers: Can be olive brown or rusty brown ground colour. Four distinct white flecks in varying size along the leading edge of the forewing and two thin cross-lines with distinct “V” shaped points. Distinguish this from the other British Cosmia species
Distribution:  (Last record: 18 July 2025 at Belper )  –  A rare and locally distributed species in Derbyshire, that seems to be restricted to isolated lowland areas of the county. Another Cosmia species that has been affected by Dutch elm disease.
General Comment: None
Flight Period: July /  August –  On the wing July – August Moth Activity: Nocturnal   – but can be disturbed during the day Photographed: Yes –  Photographed By: Clive Ashton, Dave Evans  © All Rights Reserved
*** Last updated on 13 January 2026 by TD ***
Wingspan: 28-35mm
Forewing: 12-16mm
Food Plant: English elm (Ulmus procera) andWych elm (U. glabra).
Last Recorded Year: 2025
Last Recorded By – Dave Evans
Last Recorded General Area – Belper

Selected Images:  Cromford, Derbyshire July 28th 2022 – Clive Ashton© / Belper (2025) Dave Evans©



Distribution Map for Cosmia affinis

Found 29 records
    ↳ from 2026+
    ↳ 5 from 2020 - 2025
    ↳ 24 from Before 2020
Flying
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

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 – Cosmia affinis

⚠️ 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: Cosmia affinis
( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )

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


First/Last Recorded Dates: Cosmia affinis
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: Cosmia affinis
( All data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )
Annual Growth Rate (AGR): Cosmia affinis
AGR: -7.41%   |   Total % Change: -75%

Hectad (10kmx10km) Coverage: Cosmia affinis
( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )

Flight Periods – Indicative –vs– Recorded Data
Cosmia affinis

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 - Cosmia affinis – 29 records available

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

Site NameTetradDateCountStageSource
BelperSK34U18/07/20251adultvc57_irecords_extract
upper cromford gardenSK25Y11/07/20251adultvc57_irecords_extract
Lower Cromford GardenSK25Y14/08/20221adultvc57_irecords_extract
Lower Cromford GardenSK25Y09/08/20221adultvc57_irecords_extract
Lower Cromford GardenSK25Y27/07/20221adultvc57_irecords_extract
The Old Manse, Ault Hucknall, GlapwellSK46S02/09/20131Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
The Old Manse, Ault Hucknall, GlapwellSK46S02/09/20131Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
The Old Manse, Ault Hucknall, GlapwellSK46S23/08/20131Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
The Old Manse, Ault Hucknall, GlapwellSK46S23/08/20131Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Repton (site not precise)SK32B23/07/20091Larvaevc57_danes_bc_data
Repton (site not precise)SK32B01/07/20092Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Repton (site not precise)SK32B01/08/20074Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Carsington Ave, Allestree, DerbySK33J10/08/19861Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Drummond Rd, IlkestonSK44R07/09/19801Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Wolds Rise, Cavendish Rd, MatlockSK36A04/08/19791Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Askew Grove, ReptonSK32D24/07/19761Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Repton (site not precise)SK32B22/07/19461Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Lathkill Dale (site not precise)SK16S01/01/19051Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Kedleston St, Derby (site assumed to be his garden)SK33N01/01/19051Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Lathkill Dale (site not precise)SK16S01/01/19001Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Kedleston St, Derby (site assumed to be his garden)SK33N01/01/19001Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Bretby area, Swadlincote (site not precise)SK22W01/01/18851Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Repton Shrubs, Repton (site not precise)SK32B01/01/18851Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Barrow on Trent, Derby (site not precise)SK32P01/01/18851Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Bretby area, Swadlincote (site not precise)SK22W01/01/18851Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Repton Shrubs, Repton (site not precise)SK32B01/01/18851Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Barrow on Trent, Derby (site not precise)SK32P01/01/18851Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Derbyshire (site not precise)SK33L01/01/18701Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Derbyshire (site not precise)SK33L01/01/18001Adultvc57_danes_bc_data

Scroll to Top