70.038 BF1716 – The Vestal – Rhodometra sacraria – (Linnaeus, 1767)
Adult Macro: CAT 3 – Difficult to identify – Quality set of photographs required – 
– click for Adult Macro Verification Guidelines
– click for Adult Macro Verification Guidelines
– Significant Record / Very Rare / Vagrant 
– Migrant
– easy to identify, generally distinctive and unlikely to be confused with other species.ID pointers: A distinctive triangular shaped, delicate looking moth. Cream wings with a prominent diagonal cross-line of crimson running across the forewing. Can be quiet variable in colour, the higher intensity of crimson in the wing indicates the moth has migrated from a warm climate.
Distribution: (First record: 1973 ) – (Last record: 12 September 2025 at Quarndon ) – Last recorded in September 2023. A rare immigrant to Derbyshire. This specimen, trapped in Sept 2006 during a good migrant year, was the first since 1983. Usually arrives during the autumn months. The first county record was 1973. During 2019 – 2023 a total of seven were reported.
General Comment: None *** Last updated on 12 January 2026 by TD ***
Last Recorded Year: 2025
First Recorded Year: 1973
Last Recorded By – Graham Pollock
Last Recorded General Area – Quarndon
Selected Images: Melbourne – Images by Tony Davison© / Sept 2025 – Staunton Harold Res – Margaret McLoughlin©
Image Gallery
Temporal Distribution Chart
Adults: (between 1973 - 2025)
(click legend below to show/hide datasets)
Distribution Map for Rhodometra sacraria
Found 35 records
↳ from 2026+
↳ 7 from 2020 - 2025
↳ 28 from Before 2020
↳ from 2026+
↳ 7 from 2020 - 2025
↳ 28 from Before 2020
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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 – Rhodometra sacraria
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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.
Monthly Records By Year:
Rhodometra sacraria
( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )
Monthly Counts By Year:
Rhodometra sacraria
( data is based on 'Adult' stage records only )
First/Last Recorded Dates: Rhodometra sacraria
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: Rhodometra sacraria
( All data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )
Annual Growth Rate (AGR): Rhodometra sacraria
AGR: -0.7% | Total % Change: -12.5%
Hectad (10kmx10km) Coverage: Rhodometra sacraria
( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )
Flight Periods – Indicative –vs– Recorded Data
Rhodometra sacraria
Rhodometra sacraria
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 - Rhodometra sacraria – 35 records available
Listed by Year - descending - scroll across to see all table columns
| Site Name | Tetrad | Date | Count | Stage | Recorder | Source | RecordKey |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Findern, Derbyshire | SK33A | 19/09/2025 | 1 | adult | Hallam, Brian | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC45451342 |
| Staunton Harold Reservoir | SK32S | 05/09/2025 | 1 | adult | McLoughlin, Margaret | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC45310354 |
| Mickleover garden | SK33C | 05/09/2025 | 1 | adult | Maughan, Christine | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC45487400 |
| Ladycroft Ave | SK07S | 07/09/2023 | 1 | adult | Orridge, Steve | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC35076006 |
| Hathersage, Derbyshire, UK | SK28F | 22/10/2022 | 1 | adult | Miles, Claire | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC28565123 |
| Shirland - Hallfieldgate Lane | SK35Z | 22/10/2022 | 1 | Adult | Mahadevan, Nikki | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC34933511 |
| Findern, Derbyshire, DEAZ | SK33A | 21/09/2022 | 1 | adult | Brian and Jean Hallam | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC35167991 |
| Briar Close,Newhall,Swadlincote | SK22V | 27/09/2016 | 1 | Adult | K. Peach | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001WPTPH |
| School Close,Parkway Gardens,Darley Dale | SK26R | 07/10/2013 | 1 | Adult | A. Butler | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001OLE1B |
| School Close,Parkway Gardens,Darley Dale | SK26R | 07/10/2013 | 1 | Adult | A. Butler | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001WOUH8 |
| Pleasley Pit CP, Pleasley | SK46X | 07/10/2013 | 1 | Adult | B.J.N. Hill | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001WOUHV |
| School Close,Parkway Gardens,Darley Dale | SK26R | 03/10/2013 | 1 | Adult | A. Butler | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001OJXTF |
| School Close,Parkway Gardens,Darley Dale | SK26R | 03/10/2013 | 1 | Adult | A. Butler | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001WP48B |
| School Close,Parkway Gardens,Darley Dale | SK26R | 11/10/2011 | 1 | Adult | A. Butler | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001OK8A5 |
| Welbeck Drive,Wingerworth | SK36T | 04/10/2011 | 1 | Adult | B.J.N. Hill | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001OL518 |
| Foremark Reservoir, Derbyshire | SK32H | 29/10/2006 | 1 | adult | Davison, Tony | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC33090790 |
| Foremark Resr, Ticknall | SK32H | 29/10/2006 | 1 | Adult | Davison, Tony | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001OJGTO |
| Far Cross,Cavendish Park,Matlock | SK36A | 17/10/2006 | 2 | Adult | B.L. Statham | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001OJGRV |
| Church St,Holloway,Matlock | SK35I | 26/09/2006 | 1 | Adult | F. Harrison | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001OI95U |
| Curzon Lane,Alvaston,Derby | SK33W | 26/09/2006 | 1 | Adult | I. Webb;P. Webb | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001OI95Z |
| Curzon Lane,Alvaston,Derby | SK33W | 26/09/2006 | 1 | Adult | I. Webb;P. Webb | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001WQ48H |
| Main Street, Kings Newton | SK32Y | 19/09/2006 | 1 | Adult | Soar, Will | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC34680106 |
| Main St,Kings Newton,Melbourne | SK32Y | 19/09/2006 | 1 | Adult | Soar, Will | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001OHUN0 |
| Robin's Cross (Woodland Trust site) | SK32C | 15/09/2006 | 1 | Adult | Soar, Will | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC34680105 |
| Robin's Cross (Woodland Trust site), Repton | SK32C | 15/09/2006 | 1 | Adult | BUDWORTH, Mr D., WILLIAMS, Mr M.J., WILLIAMS, Mrs | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001OHUKC |
| Melbourne, Derbyshire | SK32X | 10/09/2006 | 1 | adult | Davison, Tony | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC33534251 |
| Spinney Hill,Melbourne | SK32X | 10/09/2006 | 1 | Adult | Davison, Tony | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001OI8XK |
| Far Cross,Cavendish Park,Matlock | SK36A | 08/09/2006 | 2 | Adult | B.L. Statham | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001OI8X6 |
| The Hollies,Station Rd,Darley Dale | SK26R | 24/07/2006 | 1 | Adult | Roddis, Simon | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001OHTTR |
| Threepieces, Veron Lane, Kelstedge, Ashover | SK36G | 29/09/1983 | 1 | Adult | VC57 Derbyshire Recorder | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001OHYYN |
| Threepieces, Veron Lane, Kelstedge, Ashover | SK36G | 28/09/1983 | 1 | Adult | VC57 Derbyshire Recorder | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001OHYYI |
| Hilton Gravel Pits, Hilton, Burton on Trent | SK23K | 15/09/1973 | 1 | Adult | VC57 Derbyshire Recorder | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001OHWH6 |
| Hilton Gravel Pits, Hilton, Burton on Trent | SK23K | 15/09/1973 | 1 | Adult | B. Elliott;B.L. Statham;F. Harrison | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001WP39Y |
| Darley Dale (site not precise) | SK26R | 13/09/1973 | 1 | Adult | B.L. Statham | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001OIIDF |
| Darley Dale (site not precise) | SK26R | 13/09/1973 | 1 | Adult | B.L. Statham | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001WP39X |