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70.111 BF1875  – Small White Wave  – Asthena albulata  – (Hufnagel, 1767)
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

Green –  Rare / Uncommon / Scarce   
Taxonomy:   Macro  >>.  >>  Geometridae  >> Larentiinae
** Photograph required **
ID Difficulty:  amber  – care required in the identification process, as confusion with similar species is likely – quality photographs required.
Confusion Species:  Common White Wave, Common Wave, Grass Rivulet:
ID pointers: The small size, pure white ground colour, a silky sheen to the forewings and contrasting brown wavy cross-lines are diagnostic.
Distribution:  (Last record: 17 June 2017 )  –  An uncommon and locally distributed species in Derbyshire. Favours hazel scrub growing on the sides of limestone dales.
General Comment: None
Flight Period: May /  June /  July –  On the wing – May – August. One generation in our area Moth Activity: Nocturnal  Crepuscular   – but can be disturbed during the day Photographed: Yes –  Photographed By: Not Recorded
*** Last updated on 2 October 2025 by RP ***
Wingspan: 14-18mm
Forewing: 9-11mm
Food Plant: Hazel, Hornbeam, betulae and wild roses.
Last Recorded Year: 2017
Last Recorded By – The late D.Budworth
Last Recorded General Area – Not Recorded

Selected Images:  



Temporal Distribution Chart
Adults: (between 1890 - 2018)
(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 Asthena albulata

Found 36 records
    ↳ from 2026+
    ↳ from 2020 - 2025
    ↳ 36 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 – Asthena albulata

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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: Asthena albulata
( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )

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

First/Last Recorded Dates: Asthena albulata
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: Asthena albulata
( All data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )
Annual Growth Rate (AGR): Asthena albulata
AGR: -8.3%   |   Total % Change: -75%

Hectad (10kmx10km) Coverage: Asthena albulata
( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )

Flight Periods – Indicative –vs– Recorded Data
Asthena albulata

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 - Asthena albulata – 36 records available

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

Site Name Tetrad Date Count Stage Recorder Source RecordKey
Darley Dale (site not precise) SK26R 01/06/2018 1 Adult A.E.W. Morse vc57_danes_bc_data LC000334001WPTV7
Whitwell Wood (centre area), Whitwell, Worksop SK57J 17/06/2017 3 Adult Dave Budworth;D. Brumbill;D.A. Clarke;D.A. Smith;K vc57_danes_bc_data LC000334001WQJVD
Ashbourne (site not precise) SK14T 12/06/2012 1 Adult Unknown;Hanson Sale vc57_danes_bc_data LC000334001WOTTO
Repton (site not precise) SK32B 03/06/2012 1 Adult H.C. Hayward vc57_danes_bc_data LC000334001WPM0T
Millennium Meadow NR, Duffield SK34L 29/05/2012 1 Adult VC57 Derbyshire Recorder vc57_danes_bc_data LC000334001OK8OO
Via Gellia,Cromford SK25T 25/06/2011 1 Adult A. Butler vc57_danes_bc_data LC000334001OL0W9
Dovedale (Staffs side) SK15K 01/06/2009 5 Adult VC57 Derbyshire Recorder vc57_danes_bc_data LC000334001OKN1G
Pleasley Pit (Pit Buildings),Pleasley SK46X 09/07/2005 1 Adult C. Stubbs vc57_danes_bc_data LC000334001OJ9MG
Via Gellia,Cromford SK25Y 27/05/2002 4 Adult B.L. Statham vc57_danes_bc_data LC000334001OHON4
South Wood, Calke, Ticknall (site not precise) SK32Q 05/06/1998 1 Adult VC57 Derbyshire Recorder vc57_danes_bc_data LC000334001OJI27
South Wood, Calke, Ticknall (site not precise) SK32Q 23/05/1998 1 Adult VC57 Derbyshire Recorder vc57_danes_bc_data LC000334001OHNSK
Dunstan Farm, Dronfield Woodhouse, Dronfield SK37J 16/08/1996 1 Adult VC57 Derbyshire Recorder vc57_danes_bc_data LC000334001OHNE2
Lang Rd, Alvaston, Derby SK33R 05/07/1994 1 Adult VC57 Derbyshire Recorder vc57_danes_bc_data LC000334001OIY19
Bonsal Wood, Via Gelia, Cromford SK25T 29/05/1993 1 Adult F. Harrison vc57_danes_bc_data LC000334001OIWVV
Coombs Dale,Stoney Middleton SK27H 20/07/1991 1 Adult VC57 Derbyshire Recorder vc57_danes_bc_data LC000334001OIVD3
Carvers Rocks NR, Hartshorne, Swadlincote (site not precise) SK32G 13/06/1981 2 Adult D.A. Young vc57_danes_bc_data LC000334001OINJP
Nimblejack (quarry), Via Gellia, Cromford (site not precise) SK25T 15/06/1971 1 Adult VC57 Derbyshire Recorder vc57_danes_bc_data LC000334001OHESX
Nimblejack (quarry), Via Gellia, Cromford (site not precise) SK25T 12/06/1971 4 Adult VC57 Derbyshire Recorder vc57_danes_bc_data LC000334001OJHRJ
Hopton Wood Quarry (site not precise) SK25M 27/05/1970 2 Adult VC57 Derbyshire Recorder vc57_danes_bc_data LC000334001OIHQY
Repton Shrubs, Repton SK32B 01/05/1938 1 Adult Unknown;Blackwell Wood vc57_danes_bc_data LC000334001WPZBY
Repton Shrubs, Repton SK32B 04/06/1932 1 Adult H.C. Hayward vc57_danes_bc_data LC000334001WOQLW
Repton Shrubs, Repton SK32B 12/06/1928 1 Adult H.C. Hayward vc57_danes_bc_data LC000334001WPZBH
Repton Shrubs, Repton SK32B 02/06/1928 1 Adult VC57 Derbyshire Recorder vc57_danes_bc_data LC000334001OHEVJ
Repton Shrubs, Repton SK32B 01/01/1927 1 Adult H.C. Hayward vc57_danes_bc_data LC000334001WPZBD
Repton Shrubs, Repton SK32B 01/08/1926 1 Adult VC57 Derbyshire Recorder vc57_danes_bc_data LC000334001OHEV6
Repton Shrubs, Repton SK32B 01/08/1926 1 Adult H.C. Hayward vc57_danes_bc_data LC000334001WPZBB
Darley Dale (site not precise) SK26R 01/06/1918 1 Adult VC57 Derbyshire Recorder vc57_danes_bc_data LC000334001OHV3F
Little Eaton (site not precise) SK34R 01/01/1905 1 Adult G. Pike vc57_danes_bc_data LC000334001WPZA4
Little Eaton (site not precise) SK34R 01/01/1900 1 Adult VC57 Derbyshire Recorder vc57_danes_bc_data LC000334001OJHEX
Langwith (site not precise) SK57A 27/06/1893 1 Adult VC57 Derbyshire Recorder vc57_danes_bc_data LC000334001OLFRW
Langwith (site not precise) SK57A 16/05/1893 1 Adult VC57 Derbyshire Recorder vc57_danes_bc_data LC000334001OLFRH
Poolsbrook, Staveley (site not precise) SK47G 28/05/1890 1 Adult S. Hooke vc57_danes_bc_data LC000334001WPU47
Seal Wood, Overseal, Swadlincote (site not precise) SK21S 01/01/1885 1 Adult [VC57 Recorder] vc57_danes_bc_data LC000334001TAG9A
Repton Shrubs, Repton SK32B 01/01/1885 1 Adult C.F. Thornewill vc57_danes_bc_data LC000334001WP386
Repton (site not precise) SK32B 01/01/1878 1 Adult F.M. Spilsbury vc57_danes_bc_data LC000334001WPZ8G
Repton (site not precise) SK32B 01/01/1800 1 Adult VC57 Derbyshire Recorder vc57_danes_bc_data LC000334001OJYIG

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