73.215 BF2316 – Lesser-spotted Pinion – Cosmia affinis – (Linnaeus, 1767)
Adult Macro: CAT 2 – Can be confused with other species – Good photographs may be required – 
– click for Adult Macro Verification Guidelines
– click for Adult Macro Verification Guidelines
– Rare / Uncommon / Scarce
– 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 *** Last updated on 13 January 2026 by TD ***
Forewing: 12-16mm
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©
Image Gallery
No gallery images found for this moth.
Temporal Distribution Chart
Adults: (between 1976 - 2025) | Immatures: (between 2009 - 2009)
(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 Cosmia affinis
Found 24 records
↳ from 2026+
↳ 5 from 2020 - 2025
↳ 19 from Before 2020
↳ from 2026+
↳ 5 from 2020 - 2025
↳ 19 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 – 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.
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
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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
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 – 24 records available
Listed by Year - descending - scroll across to see all table columns
| Site Name | Tetrad | Date | Count | Stage | Recorder | Source | RecordKey |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Belper | SK34U | 18/07/2025 | 1 | adult | Evans, Dave | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC43630241 |
| upper cromford garden | SK25Y | 11/07/2025 | 1 | adult | Ashton, Clive | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC43358935 |
| Lower Cromford Garden | SK25Y | 14/08/2022 | 1 | adult | Ashton, Clive | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC34569173 |
| Lower Cromford Garden | SK25Y | 09/08/2022 | 1 | adult | Ashton, Clive | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC34569087 |
| Lower Cromford Garden | SK25Y | 27/07/2022 | 1 | adult | Ashton, Clive | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC34569078 |
| The Old Manse, Ault Hucknall, Glapwell | SK46S | 02/09/2013 | 1 | Adult | M.E. Bradley | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001WPO15 |
| The Old Manse, Ault Hucknall, Glapwell | SK46S | 23/08/2013 | 1 | Adult | M.E. Bradley | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001WPSHY |
| Repton (site not precise) | SK32B | 23/07/2009 | 1 | Larvae | H.C. Hayward | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001WPCLU |
| Repton (site not precise) | SK32B | 01/07/2009 | 2 | Adult | H.C. Hayward | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001WP76F |
| Repton (site not precise) | SK32B | 01/08/2007 | 4 | Adult | H.C. Hayward | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001WQENK |
| Carsington Ave, Allestree, Derby | SK33J | 10/08/1986 | 1 | Adult | K.J. Orpe | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001OISCA |
| Drummond Rd, Ilkeston | SK44R | 07/09/1980 | 1 | Adult | T. Duro | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001OIN8M |
| Wolds Rise, Cavendish Rd, Matlock | SK36A | 04/08/1979 | 1 | Adult | B.L. Statham | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001OILUY |
| Askew Grove, Repton | SK32D | 24/07/1976 | 1 | Adult | D.A. Young | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001OIJYI |
| Lathkill Dale (site not precise) | SK16S | 01/01/1905 | 1 | Adult | R.H. Fuller | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001WOSAU |
| Kedleston St, Derby (site assumed to be his garden) | SK33N | 01/01/1905 | 1 | Adult | G. Baker | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001WPZ9T |
| Lathkill Dale (site not precise) | SK16S | 01/01/1900 | 1 | Adult | VC57 Derbyshire Recorder | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001OHD8E |
| Kedleston St, Derby (site assumed to be his garden) | SK33N | 01/01/1900 | 1 | Adult | VC57 Derbyshire Recorder | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001OICZQ |
| Bretby area, Swadlincote (site not precise) | SK22W | 01/01/1885 | 1 | Adult | T. Gibbs | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001WP37R |
| Repton Shrubs, Repton (site not precise) | SK32B | 01/01/1885 | 1 | Adult | [VC57 Recorder] | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001TAGCH |
| Repton Shrubs, Repton (site not precise) | SK32B | 01/01/1885 | 1 | Adult | T. Gibbs | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001WP387 |
| Barrow on Trent, Derby (site not precise) | SK32P | 01/01/1885 | 1 | Adult | G.A. Smallwood | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001WPQ3B |
| Derbyshire (site not precise) | SK33L | 01/01/1870 | 1 | Adult | E. Newman | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001WPZ7U |
| Derbyshire (site not precise) | SK33L | 01/01/1800 | 1 | Adult | VC57 Derbyshire Recorder | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001OJYHR |