73.286 BF2167  –  Noctuidae –  Hadeninae – Hadena perplexa – Tawny Shears – ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775) 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  >> Hadeninae
ID Difficulty:  amber  – care required in the identification process, as confusion with similar species is likely – quality photographs required.
ID pointers: Highly variable but characterised by  a rather broad , angular and fairly pointed forewing. A constant feature are the small number of arrowhead markings before the outermost cross-line, also a dark-outlined tooth-shaped or bullet-shaped marking in the central area.
Distribution:  (Last record: 14 May 2024 at Staveley )  –  Uncommon and locally distributed in Derbyshire. Low density populations exist in the Trent Valley, Coal Measures, Carboniferous Limestone and Magnesium Limestone areas. Two recent records one from 2021 and one from 2024.
Flight Period: May /  June /  July /  –  On the wing May – July – one generation Moth Activity: Nocturnal   – and is attracted to light Photographed: Yes –  Photographed By: Sid Morris  © All Rights Reserved
*** Last updated on 2 October 2025 by RP ***
Wingspan: 27-36mm
Forewing: 13-15mm
Food Plant: Campion (Silene sp.).
Last Recorded Year: 2024
Last Recorded By – Sid Morris
Last Recorded General Area – Staveley

Selected Images:  14/05/2024 – Sid Morris



Distribution Map for Hadena perplexa

Found 69 records
    ↳ 1 from After 2025
    ↳ 1 from 2020 - 2024
    ↳ 67 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 – Hadena perplexa

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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.

Visit NBN Site


Monthly Records By Year: Hadena perplexa
( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )

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


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


CUSUM Analysis: Hadena perplexa
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 19 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 9 (September) 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 2024, 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: Hadena perplexa
( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )

Flight Periods – Indicative –vs– Recorded Data
Hadena perplexa
( 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 - Hadena perplexa – 69 records available

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

Site NameTetradDateCountStageSource
Staveley DerbyshireSK47H25/06/20251adultvc57_irecords_extract
Staveley DerbyshireSK47H14/05/20241adultvc57_irecords_extract
Welbeck Drive, WingerworthSK36T12/06/20131Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Pleasley Pit CP, PleasleySK46X12/06/20131Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Repton (old gravel pit nr The Hayes)SK32C01/05/20131Larvaevc57_danes_bc_data
Welbeck Drive,WingerworthSK36T19/06/20111Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Lancaster Ave,SandiacreSK43S05/06/20101Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Lancaster Ave,SandiacreSK43S04/06/20101Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Rose Av,ClowneSK57D24/05/20101Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Rose Av,ClowneSK57D23/05/20101Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Marlborough Rd,Long EatonSK43X04/07/20091Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
The Field,Shipley,IlkestonSK44M28/05/20021Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
The Field,Shipley,IlkestonSK44M28/05/20021Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Wilmot St, Sawley, Long EatonSK43R03/07/19942Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Wilmot St, Sawley, Long EatonSK43R22/06/19921Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Wilmot St, Sawley, Long EatonSK43R03/07/19911Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Deerlands Rd, Ashgate, ChesterfieldSK37K10/05/19901Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Deerlands Rd, Ashgate, ChesterfieldSK37K10/05/19901Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Lumb House, Eversleigh Rise, South Darley, Darley BridgeSK26Q20/05/19891Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Drummond Rd, IlkestonSK44R02/06/19811Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Drummond Rd, IlkestonSK44R10/06/19801Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Clough Wood,Darley DaleSK26K01/05/19801Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Back Lane,GlapwellSK46T28/07/19781Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Back Lane, GlapwellSK46T28/07/19781Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Back Lane,GlapwellSK46T07/06/19781Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Back Lane, GlapwellSK46T07/06/19781Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Back Lane,GlapwellSK46T03/06/19783Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Back Lane, GlapwellSK46T03/06/19783Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Back Lane,GlapwellSK46T01/06/19781Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Back Lane, GlapwellSK46T01/06/19781Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Middleton, Wirksworth (site not precise)SK25M15/07/19771Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Middleton, Wirksworth (site not precise)SK25M24/06/19771Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Berry St, Hepthorne LaneSK46C11/06/19751Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Berry St, Hepthorne Lane, North WingfieldSK46C11/06/19751Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Berry St, Hepthorne LaneSK46C10/06/19751Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Berry St, Hepthorne Lane, North WingfieldSK46C10/06/19751Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Berry St, Hepthorne LaneSK46C03/07/19731Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Berry St, Hepthorne Lane, North WingfieldSK46C03/07/19731Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Berry St, Hepthorne LaneSK46C15/06/19731Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Berry St, Hepthorne Lane, North WingfieldSK46C15/06/19731Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Berry St, Hepthorne LaneSK46C12/06/19731Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Berry St, Hepthorne Lane, North WingfieldSK46C12/06/19731Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Berry St, Hepthorne LaneSK46C11/06/19731Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Berry St, Hepthorne Lane, North WingfieldSK46C11/06/19731Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Berry St, Hepthorne LaneSK46C23/06/19702Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Berry St, Hepthorne Lane, North WingfieldSK46C23/06/19702Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Berry St, Hepthorne Lane, North WingfieldSK46C09/09/19681Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Berry St, Hepthorne Lane, North WingfieldSK46C13/06/19671Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Newbold Drive, ChesterfieldSK37R06/06/19661Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Newbold Drive, ChesterfieldSK37R27/05/19641Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Newbold Drive, ChesterfieldSK37R27/05/19641Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Newbold Rd, ChesterfieldSK37R09/06/19632Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Newbold Rd, ChesterfieldSK37R06/06/19631Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
John St, Clay CrossSK36W05/06/19602Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
John St, Clay CrossSK36W04/06/19601Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
John St, Clay CrossSK36W03/06/19601Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
John St, Clay CrossSK36W31/05/19601Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
John St, Clay CrossSK36W27/05/19601Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
John St, Clay CrossSK36W23/05/19603Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Repton (site not precise)SK32B01/06/19574Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Berry St, Hepthorne LaneSK46C28/05/19531Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Berry St, Hepthorne Lane, North WingfieldSK46C28/05/19531Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Darley Dale (site not precise)SK26R01/06/19181Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Repton (site not precise)SK32B18/06/19141Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Repton (old gravel pit nr The Hayes)SK32C01/05/19131Larvaevc57_danes_bc_data
Bretby, Swadlincote (site not precise)SK22W01/01/18851Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Breadsall, Derby (site not precise)SK33U01/01/18831Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Osmaston Park,AshbourneSK24B01/01/18521Larvaevc57_danes_bc_data
Breadsall, Derby (site not precise)SK33U01/01/18001Adultvc57_danes_bc_data

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