Broom Moth       The Shears
73.272 BF2162  –  Noctuidae –  Hadeninae – Papestra biren – Glaucous Shears – (Goeze, 1781) 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  >> Hadeninae
ID Difficulty:  green  – easy to identify, generally distinctive and unlikely to be confused with other species.
ID pointers:  A rather pointed and narrow-winged moth, with a marbled ash-grey forewing with large creamy-white and rounded kidney marks. Despite the name, it does not show the characteristic  scissor-like marks of Shears
Distribution:   A resident that is confined to the gritstone moorland of North Derbyshire, where it is common and widely distributed.
Flight Period: May /  June /  –  On the wing May – June Moth Activity: Nocturnal   – and is attracted to light Photographed: Yes –  Photographed By: Christian Heintzen, Steve Orridge  © All Rights Reserved
*** Last updated on 27 July 2025 by TD ***
Wingspan: 32-40mm
Forewing: 15-18mm Food Plant: Heather (Calluna), Bog-myrtle (Myrica gale)
Recorded dates for Common [Blue code Blue-coded] moths are not stored on the website at this current time.
IMAGES BELOW:  Images by Steve Orridge© and Christian Heintzen© 

Glaucous Shears - Christian Heintzen
Glaucous Shears – Christian Heintzen
73.272 BF2162 - Glaucous Shears - Noctuidae - Papestra biren
Glaucous Shears – Steve Orridge
Glaucous Shears - Christian Heintzen
73.272 BF2162 - Glaucous Shears - Noctuidae - Papestra biren

no images were found

Distribution Map for Papestra biren

Found 130 records
    ↳ 6 from After 2025
    ↳ 17 from 2020 - 2024
    ↳ 107 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 – Papestra biren

⚠️ 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: Papestra biren
( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )

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


First/Last Recorded Dates: Papestra biren
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: Papestra biren
( All data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )
Annual Growth Rate (AGR): Papestra biren
AGR: 8.71%   |   Total % Change: 641.7%


CUSUM Analysis: Papestra biren
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 7 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 2021, 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: Papestra biren
( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )

Flight Periods – Indicative –vs– Recorded Data
Papestra biren
( 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 - Papestra biren – 130 records available

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

TaxonSite NameTetradYearDateCountStageSource
Papestra birenCote Heath Allotments, BuxtonSK07R202510/05/20251adultvc57_irecords_extract
Papestra birenLowcroft, Buxton SK, UKSK07S202504/05/20251Adultvc57_irecords_extract
Papestra birenGlossop, Hague Street, Hay MeadowSK09G202512/05/20251adultvc57_irecords_extract
Papestra birenGlossop, Hague Street, Hay MeadowSK09G202521/05/20251adultvc57_irecords_extract
Papestra birenLadycroft Ave, BuxtonSK07S202528/04/20252adultvc57_irecords_extract
Papestra birenGlossop, Moorfield, Wood's CabinSK09L202530/04/202583adultvc57_irecords_extract
Papestra birenGlossop, Moorfield, Wood's CabinSK09L202408/05/20241adultvc57_irecords_extract
Papestra birenGlossop, Shawmoor PlantationSK09F202313/05/20231adultvc57_irecords_extract
Papestra birenGlossop, Moorfield, Wood's CabinSK09L202318/05/202312adultvc57_irecords_extract
Papestra birenGlossop, Moorfield, Wood's CabinSK09L202322/05/20236adultvc57_irecords_extract
Papestra birenBuxton SK, UKSK07S202103/06/20211Adultvc57_irecords_extract
Papestra birenBuxton SK, UKSK07S202117/06/20211Adultvc57_irecords_extract
Papestra birenHathersage, Derbyshire, UKSK28F202109/06/20211adultvc57_irecords_extract
Papestra birenWhite Knowle Road, BuxtonSK07R202026/05/20201adultvc57_irecords_extract
Papestra birenWhite Knowle Road, BuxtonSK07R202026/05/20201Adultvc57_irecords_extract
Papestra birenLadycroft Ave, BuxtonSK07S202016/05/20201adultvc57_irecords_extract
Papestra birenLadycroft Ave, BuxtonSK07S202018/05/20202adultvc57_irecords_extract
Papestra birenLadycroft Ave, BuxtonSK07S202020/05/20201adultvc57_irecords_extract
Papestra birenLadycroft Ave, BuxtonSK07S202021/05/20203adultvc57_irecords_extract
Papestra birenThe Mays, Malthouse Lane, FroggattSK27N202028/05/20201adultDanes_2019-2021
Papestra birenThe Mays, Malthouse Lane, FroggattSK27N202025/05/20201adultDanes_2019-2021
Papestra birenThe Mays, Malthouse Lane, FroggattSK27N202019/05/20203adultDanes_2019-2021
Papestra birenThe Mays, Malthouse Lane, FroggattSK27N202018/05/20201adultDanes_2019-2021
Papestra birenHathersage, Derbyshire, UKSK28F201901/06/20191adultvc57_irecords_extract
Papestra birenThe Mays, Malthouse Lane, FroggattSK27N201901/06/20191adultDanes_2019-2021
Papestra birenBirch ValeSK08I201919/05/20191adultvc57_irecords_extract
Papestra birenBirch ValeSK08I201921/05/20192adultvc57_irecords_extract
Papestra birenBarbrook Resvr, BaslowSK27T201901/05/201919Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Papestra birenBarbrook Resvr, BaslowSK27T201915/05/201912Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Papestra birenBuxton (Cote Heath Allotments)SK07R201923/05/20191adultDanes_2019-2021
Papestra birenHathersage, Derbyshire, UKSK28F201922/04/20191adultvc57_irecords_extract
Papestra birenBarbrook Resvr, BaslowSK27T201923/04/201927Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Papestra birenBirch ValeSK08I201830/05/20181adultvc57_irecords_extract
Papestra birenAshop CloughSK19A201623/06/20161adultvc57_irecords_extract
Papestra birenBirch ValeSK08I201417/05/20141adultvc57_irecords_extract
Papestra birenLadycroft AveSK07S201418/05/20142adultvc57_irecords_extract
Papestra birenLadycroft AveSK07S201420/05/20141adultvc57_irecords_extract
Papestra birenBirch Barn, New Mills Rd, Birch ValeSK08I201417/05/20141Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Papestra birenLadycroft AveSK07S201307/07/20131adultvc57_irecords_extract
Papestra birenLadycroft AveSK07S201325/06/20131adultvc57_irecords_extract
Papestra birenThe Mays,Malthouse Lane,FroggattSK27N201309/06/20132Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Papestra birenWelbeck Drive, WingerworthSK36T201321/06/20131Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Papestra birenMacclesfield Rd, Whaley BridgeSK08A201318/06/20131Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Papestra birenWelbeck Drive, WingerworthSK36T201320/06/20131Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Papestra birenThe Mays,Malthouse Lane,FroggattSK27N201309/06/20132Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Papestra birenLadycroft Ave,BuxtonSK07S201201/06/20121Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Papestra birenLadycroft Ave, BuxtonSK07S201201/06/20121Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Papestra birenDerbyshire, UKSK07M201224/05/20121Adultvc57_irecords_extract
Papestra birenLadycroft Ave,BuxtonSK07S201222/05/20124Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Papestra birenLadycroft Ave,BuxtonSK07S201226/05/20123Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Papestra birenLadycroft Ave,BuxtonSK07S201227/05/20122Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Papestra birenLadycroft Ave,BuxtonSK07S201230/05/20124Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Papestra birenLadycroft Ave, BuxtonSK07S201230/05/20124Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Papestra birenLadycroft Ave, BuxtonSK07S201222/05/20124Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Papestra birenLadycroft Ave, BuxtonSK07S201226/05/20123Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Papestra birenLadycroft Ave, BuxtonSK07S201227/05/20122Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Papestra birenBeeley Triangle,Beeley MoorSK26Y201101/06/20111Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Papestra birenBeeley Triangle, Beeley Moor, BeeleySK26Y201101/06/20111Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Papestra birenOaks Barn Cottage, Monyash Rd, Over Haddon, BakewellSK26D201122/05/20112Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Papestra birenLadycroft Ave,BuxtonSK07S201106/05/20113Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Papestra birenLadycroft Ave,BuxtonSK07S201110/05/20111Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Papestra birenLadycroft Ave,BuxtonSK07S201108/05/20113Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Papestra birenLadycroft Ave, BuxtonSK07S201108/05/20113Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Papestra birenLadycroft Ave, BuxtonSK07S201106/05/20113Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Papestra birenLadycroft Ave, BuxtonSK07S201110/05/20111Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Papestra birenAult Hucknall,GlapwellSK46S201123/04/20111Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Papestra birenOaks Barn Cottage, Monyash Rd, Over Haddon, BakewellSK26D201124/04/20112Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Papestra birenLadycroft Ave,BuxtonSK07S201030/06/20101Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Papestra birenMillstone Edge,HathersageSK28K201004/06/20101Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Papestra birenLadycroft Ave,BuxtonSK07S201005/06/20102Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Papestra birenLadycroft Ave, BuxtonSK07S201030/06/20101Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Papestra birenLadycroft Ave, BuxtonSK07S201005/06/20102Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Papestra birenBuxton SK, UKSK07S201020/05/20101Adultvc57_irecords_extract
Papestra birenRose Av,ClowneSK57D201024/05/20102Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Papestra birenThe Mays,Malthouse Lane,FroggattSK27N201031/05/20101Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Papestra birenThe Mays,Malthouse Lane,FroggattSK27N201031/05/20101Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Papestra birenThe Mays,Malthouse Lane,FroggattSK27N200910/06/20091Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Papestra birenThe Mays,Malthouse Lane,FroggattSK27N200910/06/20091Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Papestra birenThe Hollies,Station Rd,Darley DaleSK26R200929/05/20091Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Papestra birenLittlewood,Barber Booth,EdaleSK18C200704/06/20071Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Papestra birenLittlewood,Barber Booth,EdaleSK18C200712/06/20071Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Papestra birenBeeley Moor TriangleSK26Y200603/06/200611adultvc57_irecords_extract
Papestra birenCross Green Cottages,Flint Lane,South DarleySK26Q200623/06/20061Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Papestra birenBeeley Moor, BeeleySK26Z200603/06/200611Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Papestra birenThe Hollies,Station Rd,Darley DaleSK26R200609/06/20061Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Papestra birenFlash Lane,Beeley MoorSK26X200527/05/20052Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Papestra birenBuxton SK, UKSK07S200425/05/20041Adultvc57_irecords_extract
Papestra birenBlacka Moor, Dore, SheffieldSK28V200112/06/20012Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Papestra birenBlacka Moor, Dore, SheffieldSK28V200112/06/20012Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Papestra birenCross Green Cottages,Flint Lane,South DarleySK26Q199220/05/19921Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Papestra birenBeeley Moor, Beeley (site not precies)SK26Z199223/05/19921Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Papestra birenBeeley Moor, Beeley (site not precies)SK26Z199126/05/199121Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Papestra birenBeeley Moor, Beeley (site not precies)SK26Z199112/05/19911Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Papestra birenHell Bank Plantation, Beeley MoorSK26Z199119/05/19911Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Papestra birenBeeley Moor (site not precise)SK26Z199112/05/19911Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Papestra birenHell Bank Plantation, Beeley MoorSK26Z199119/05/19911Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Papestra birenBeeley Moor (site not precise)SK26Z199126/05/199121Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Papestra birenParkway, New MillsSK08D199010/05/19901Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Papestra birenBeeley Moor (triangle), BeeleySK26Y199027/05/19901Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Papestra birenBeeley Moor (triangle), BeeleySK26Y199027/05/19901Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Papestra birenHell Bank Plantation, Beeley Moor (site not precise)SK26Z198828/05/19881Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Papestra birenChisworthSJ99V198701/01/19871adultvc57_irecords_extract
Papestra birenBeeley Lodge, ChatsworthSK26U198222/05/19821Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Papestra birenBeeley Lodge, Chatsworth ParkSK26U198222/05/19821Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Papestra birenUpper Booth, EdaleSK08X198013/06/19801Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Papestra birenUpper Booth, EdaleSK08X198020/05/19801Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Papestra birenWelbeck Rd, BolsoverSK47Q196912/06/19691Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Papestra birenBerry St, Hepthorne Lane, North WingfieldSK46C196805/06/19681Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Papestra birenThe Old Manse, Ault Hucknall, GlapwellSK46S196830/05/19681Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Papestra birenBeeley Moor, Beeley (site not precies)SK26Z196608/06/19661Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Papestra birenBeeley Moor, Beeley (site not precise)SK26Z196608/06/19661Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Papestra birenBeeley Moor, Beeley (site not precies)SK26Z196527/05/19651Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Papestra birenBeeley Moor, Beeley (site not precise)SK26Z196527/05/19651Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Papestra birenGladwin's Mark, Beeley MoorSK36D196426/05/19641Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Papestra birenSlagmill Plantation,Beeley MoorSK36E196304/06/19631Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Papestra birenWragg's Quarry,Rowsley MoorSK26Y196004/06/19601Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Papestra birenWragg's Quarry, Beeley Moor, BeeleySK26Y196004/06/19601Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Papestra birenMoorend, Beeley, MatlockSK26T196025/05/19601Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Papestra birenMoorend, Beeley, MatlockSK26T196026/05/19607Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Papestra birenWragg's Quarry,Rowsley MoorSK26Y196014/05/19601Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Papestra birenMoorend, BeeleySK26T196025/05/19601Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Papestra birenWragg's Quarry, Beeley Moor, BeeleySK26Y196014/05/19601Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Papestra birenMoorend, BeeleySK26T196026/05/19607Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Papestra birenBeeley Moor, Beeley (site not precies)SK26Z195917/05/19591Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Papestra birenBeeley Moor, Beeley (site not precise)SK26Z195917/05/19591Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Papestra birenLongside Rd, Beeley Moor (site not precise)SK36E195324/05/19531Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Papestra birenLongside Rd, Beeley Moor (site not precise)SK36E195324/05/19531Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Papestra birenLongside Rd, Beeley Moor (site not precise)SK36E195225/05/19525Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Papestra birenBeeley Moor, Beeley (site not precise)SK26Z195225/05/19521Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Papestra birenLongside Rd, Beeley Moor (site not precise)SK36E195225/05/19525Adultvc57_danes_bc_data

Broom Moth       The Shears

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