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73.354 BF2131  – Square-spotted Clay  – Xestia stigmatica  – (Esper, 1790)
Adult Macro:  CAT 2 – Can be confused with other species – Good photographs may be required – Can be confused with other species      
PDF Icon – click for Adult Macro Verification Guidelines

Brown –  Significant Record / Very Rare / Vagrant    
Taxonomy:   Macro  >>.  >>  Noctuidae  >> Noctuinae
** Photograph required **
ID Difficulty:  amber  – care required in the identification process, as confusion with similar species is likely – quality photographs required.
Confusion Species:  Triple-spotted Clay; Double Square-spot
Distribution:  (First record: 1895 )  –  (Last record: 19 August 2021 at Hathersage )  –  Current status uncertain in the county – 1 record in 1895, then recorded in 1997 & 2002. Two verified records from 2021, one on 19th August and one on 31st July, both from Hathersage.
General Comment: None
Flight Period: July /  August –  Late July – August Moth Activity: Nocturnal  Photographed: No –  Photographed By: Not Recorded
*** Last updated on 18 April 2026 by TD ***
Wingspan: 37-44mm
Forewing: 17-20mm
Food Plant: Including Bramble (Rubus fruticosus) and Birch (Betula).
Last Recorded Year: 2021
First Recorded Year: 1895
Last Recorded By – Clare Blues
Last Recorded General Area – Hathersage

Selected Images:  No images



Temporal Distribution Chart
Adults: (between 1895 - 2021)
(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 Xestia stigmatica

Found 9 records
    ↳ from 2026+
    ↳ 3 from 2020 - 2025
    ↳ 6 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 – Xestia stigmatica

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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: Xestia stigmatica
( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )

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

First/Last Recorded Dates: Xestia stigmatica
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: Xestia stigmatica
( All data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )
Annual Growth Rate (AGR): Xestia stigmatica
AGR: 4.69%   |   Total % Change: 150%

Hectad (10kmx10km) Coverage: Xestia stigmatica
( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )

Flight Periods – Indicative –vs– Recorded Data
Xestia stigmatica

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 - Xestia stigmatica – 9 records available

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

Site Name Tetrad Date Count Stage Recorder Source RecordKey
Ninelands Road SK28F 19/08/2021 4 adult Blues, Clare vc57_irecords_extract iBRC27390364
Ninelands Road SK28F 31/07/2021 1 adult Blues, Clare vc57_irecords_extract iBRC27391159
DRONFIELD WOODHOUSE SK37J 15/07/2020 1 adult Williamson, Andy vc57_irecords_extract iBRC45807771
Far Cross,Cavendish Park,Matlock SK36A 25/07/2008 1 Adult B.L. Statham vc57_danes_bc_data LC000334001OK0AH
Ash Brook,Ashley Close,Tansley SK35J 12/07/2006 1 Adult A.D. Sinnott vc57_danes_bc_data LC000334001OI81E
Bakewell (Milford, meadows) SK26E 27/08/2001 1 Adult Julian Clarke vc57_danes_bc_data LC000334001OJ2FB
Far Cross,Cavendish Park,Matlock SK36A 09/08/1997 1 Adult B.L. Statham vc57_danes_bc_data LC000334001OHNP9
Bakewell area (site not precise) SK26E 17/07/1895 1 Adult VC57 Derbyshire Recorder vc57_danes_bc_data LC000334001OLFRL
Bakewell area (site not precise) SK26E 17/07/1895 1 Adult R.H. Fuller vc57_danes_bc_data LC000334001WPU40

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