Brown Scallop - Paul Buxton
70.118 BF1791  – Brown Scallop  – Philereme vetulata  – ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775)
Adult Macro:  CAT 2 – Can be confused with other species – Good photographs maybe required – Can be confused with other species      
PDF Icon – click for Adult Macro Verification Guidelines

Brown –  Significant Record / Very Rare / Vagrant    
Taxonomy:   Macro  >>.  >>  Geometridae  >> Larentiinae
ID Difficulty:  amber  – care required in the identification process, as confusion with similar species is likely – quality photographs required.
ID pointers: A relatively pale brown and drably marked species, which has scalloped edges to both fore and hind-wings. The scalloping is more noticeable on the hind-wings.
Distribution:  (First record: 1986 at Hopton Wood )  –  (Last record: 21 June 2025 at Aston-on-Trent )  –  Added to the county list in 1986. Uncommon and locally distributed. Two Records in 1996, 1 record in 2009 and 2 records in 2017. Then one trapped in a Sandiacre garden overnight of 28th June 2023. Larvae were found in Hopton Wood in 2006, indicating that the species was still present in the area where it was first found in 1986.
General Comment: None
Flight Period: Not Recorded –   On the wing – July Moth Activity: Nocturnal   – occasionally attracted to light Photographed: Yes –  Photographed By: Paul Buxton, Robert Waldron  © All Rights Reserved
*** Last updated on 16 February 2026 by TD ***
Wingspan: 24-30mm
Forewing: 13-16mm
Food Plant: Buckthorn.
Last Recorded Year: 2025
First Recorded Year: 1986
Last Recorded By – Robert Waldron
Last Recorded General Area – Aston-on-Trent

Selected Images:  

Image by Paul Buxton © – Sandiacre, Derbyshire – 28th/29th June 2023. / Aston-on-Trent (2025) Robert Waldron©



Temporal Distribution Chart
Adults: (between 1996 - 2025)  |  Immatures: (between 2006 - 2006)
(click legend below to show/hide datasets)

Distribution Map for Philereme vetulata

Found 9 records
    ↳ from 2026+
    ↳ 1 from 2020 - 2025
    ↳ 8 from Before 2020
Flying
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

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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 – Philereme vetulata

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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.

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Monthly Records By Year: Philereme vetulata
( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )

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

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

Hectad (10kmx10km) Coverage: Philereme vetulata
( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )

Flight Periods – Indicative –vs– Recorded Data
Philereme vetulata

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 - Philereme vetulata – 9 records available

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

Site NameTetradDateCountStageRecorderSourceRecordKey
Aston-on-Trent, DerbyshireSK43A21/06/20251adultWaldron, Robertvc57_irecords_extractiBRC42490631
Millers Dale (Trail-Kiln)SK17G15/07/20171AdultP. Buxton;S. Brownevc57_danes_bc_dataLC000334001WPQZ2
Millers Dale (Trail bank)SK17G15/07/20171AdultDave Budworth;D.A. Clarke;N. Beasley;N. ELGAR;P. Pvc57_danes_bc_dataLC000334001WQCWE
Not givenSK25T03/07/20141AdultRoddis, Simonvc57_irecords_extractiBRC1142137
DovedaleSK15K05/07/20091AdultDavid Grundy;M.J. Dalevc57_danes_bc_dataLC000334001OKFHV
Hopton Wood Quarry,CromfordSK25T07/06/20067LarvaeB.L. Stathamvc57_danes_bc_dataLC000334001OJBWM
The Shimmers, Cressbrook, BuxtonSK17R20/07/19961AdultR.F. Botterillvc57_danes_bc_dataLC000334001OIBN2
Dale View Terrace, Cressbrook, Little LongstoneSK17R20/07/19961AdultR.F. Botterillvc57_danes_bc_dataLC000334001OIZXQ
Dale View Terrace, Cressbrook, Little LongstoneSK17R20/07/19961AdultR.F. Botterillvc57_danes_bc_dataLC000334001WOQ3W

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