Mullein       The Anomalous
73.059 BF2223 - Toadflax Brocade - Noctuidae - Calophasia lunula - Steve Thorpe
73.059 BF2223  – Toadflax Brocade  – Calophasia lunula  – (Hufnagel, 1766)
Adult Macro:  CAT 1 – Distinctive species unlikely to be confused with others –      
PDF Icon – click for Adult Macro Verification Guidelines
Green –  Rare / Uncommon / Scarce   
Taxonomy:   Macro  >>.  >>  Noctuidae  >> Oncocnemidinae
ID Difficulty:  green  – easy to identify, generally distinctive and unlikely to be confused with other species.
ID pointers: Fairly unmistakable. Has three white central marks on upper wing which is marbled with shades of brown and grey. Has banded fringes and black basal streaks.
Distribution:  (First record: 7 August 2015 at Sawley, Long Eaton )  –  (Last record: 11 June 2025 at Belper )  –  First record for the VC57 was in 2015. A recent colonist that is generally uncommon with few, but gradually increasing records, mainly from the south of the county. By 2024 the species is regularly breeding in gardens that contain Purple Toadflax, especially in the Sandiacre, Breaston and Long Eaton areas of South Derbyshire. These locations seem to be it’s current stronghold.
General Comment: None Flight Period: May /  June /  July /  August –  On the wing May – June and July – August Moth Activity: Nocturnal   – is attracted to light and flowers that are rich in nectar Photographed: Yes –  Photographed By: Steve Thorpe, Emily Milnes/ Dave Evans  © All Rights Reserved
*** Last updated on 2 October 2025 by RP ***
Wingspan: 26-32mm
Forewing: 14-15mm Food Plant: Common & Purple Toadflax (Linaria spp.)
Last Recorded Year: 2025
First Recorded Year: 2015
Last Recorded By – Dave Evans
Last Recorded General Area – Belper
Selected Images:  Courtesy of Steve Thorpe © – Breaston, Derbyshire  /  Emily Milnes © – Sandiacre 2004/ Bleper (2025) Dave Evans©

73.059 BF2223 - Toadflax Brocade - Noctuidae - Calophasia lunula - Steve Thorpe
Toadflax Brocade – Calophasia lunula – Steve Thorpe
Toadflax Brocade Caterpillar - Emily Milnes
Toadflax Brocade Caterpillar – Emily Milnes
73.059 BF2223 - Toadflax Brocade - Noctuidae - Calophasia lunula
Toadflax Brocade caterpillar – Calophasia lunula – Emily Milnes
Toadflax Brocade - 11/6/2025 - Belper - Dave Evans
Toadflax Brocade – 11/6/2025 – Belper – Dave Evans
73.059 BF2223 - Toadflax Brocade - Noctuidae - Calophasia lunula - Steve Thorpe
Toadflax Brocade Caterpillar - Emily Milnes
73.059 BF2223 - Toadflax Brocade - Noctuidae - Calophasia lunula
Toadflax Brocade - 11/6/2025 - Belper - Dave Evans


Image Gallery

Toadflax Brocade - 11/6/2025 - Belper - Dave Evans Toadflax Brocade Caterpillar - 18th September 2024 = Sandiacre - Emily Milnes©

Temporal Distribution Chart
Adults: (between 2020 - 2025)  |  Immatures: (between 2022 - 2025)
(click legend below to show/hide datasets)

Distribution Map for Calophasia lunula

Found 52 records
    ↳ from 2026+
    ↳ 52 from 2020 - 2025
    ↳ 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 – Calophasia lunula

⚠️ Please wait for the map to load fully – do not click the link shown.


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: Calophasia lunula
( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )

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

First/Last Recorded Dates: Calophasia lunula
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: Calophasia lunula
( All data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )
Annual Growth Rate (AGR): Calophasia lunula
AGR: 1.39%   |   Total % Change: 7.1%

Hectad (10kmx10km) Coverage: Calophasia lunula
( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )

Flight Periods – Indicative –vs– Recorded Data
Calophasia lunula

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 - Calophasia lunula – 52 records available

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

Site NameTetradDateCountStageRecorderSourceRecordKey
Allestree, DerbySK33P29/08/20251adultPlant, Stephenvc57_irecords_extractiBRC44898243
Chaddesden, DerbySK33T25/08/20251adultroome, martinvc57_irecords_extractiBRC44886489
Oakwood, Derby, DerbySK33Y20/08/20251larvaNick Charlesvc57_irecords_extractiBRC44638167
Derby DESK33I15/08/20251adultWatson, Adrianvc57_irecords_extractiBRC44536267
Allestree, DerbySK33P14/08/20251adultPlant, Stephenvc57_irecords_extractiBRC44548330
Chaddesden, DerbySK33T16/07/20251adultroome, martinvc57_irecords_extractiBRC44184610
Allestree, DerbySK33P04/07/20251adultPlant, Stephenvc57_irecords_extractiBRC42978401
Ilkeston, DerbyshireSK44Q20/06/20256larvaSian Urquhart-Aldredvc57_irecords_extractiBRC42482001
BelperSK34N11/06/20251adultEvans, Davevc57_irecords_extractiBRC42267852
Long Eaton, Nottingham NGFZ, UKSK53B09/06/20251Adultcwigs97vc57_irecords_extractiBRC42191060
Chaddesden, DerbySK33T27/05/20251adultroome, martinvc57_irecords_extractiBRC42702443
Ingleby Ave, DerbySK33L19/05/20251adultShervill, Andrewvc57_irecords_extractiBRC41710532
Woodland AveSK43R16/05/20252adultThorpe, Stevevc57_irecords_extractiBRC48390643
Allestree, DerbySK33P10/05/20251adultPlant, Stephenvc57_irecords_extractiBRC41484687
Sandiacre GardenSK43T30/04/20251adultMilnes, Emilyvc57_irecords_extractiBRC44473492
NG Long EatonSK43R27/04/20251adultBraddock Archievc57_irecords_extractiBRC48508645
NGLTSK43S22/08/20241adultButler, Annevc57_irecords_extractiBRC38051686
Woodland AveSK43R02/08/20241adultThorpe, Stevevc57_irecords_extractiBRC40045135
Chaddesden, DerbySK33T28/07/20241adultroome, martinvc57_irecords_extractiBRC38327714
Sandiacre GardenSK43T21/07/20241larvaMilnes, Emilyvc57_irecords_extractiBRC40192336
Sandiacre GardenSK43T18/07/20241adultMilnes, Emilyvc57_irecords_extractiBRC39285195
SandiacreSK43S28/06/20242adultpaul buxtonvc57_irecords_extractiBRC36986180
Findern, Derbyshire, DEAZSK33A20/06/20241adultHallam, Brianvc57_irecords_extractiBRC39934346
Chaddesden, DerbySK33T12/06/20241adultroome, martinvc57_irecords_extractiBRC36719633
Chaddesden, DerbySK33T12/06/20241adultroome, martinvc57_irecords_extractiBRC36721432
Sandiacre GardenSK43T04/06/20241adultMilnes, Emilyvc57_irecords_extractiBRC39165536
Woodland AveSK43R17/05/20241adultThorpe, Stevevc57_irecords_extractiBRC40044475
Woodland AveSK43R09/05/20241adultThorpe, Stevevc57_irecords_extractiBRC40044422
SandiacreSK43T08/09/20233larvaMilnes, Emilyvc57_irecords_extractiBRC34667646
SandiacreSK43T11/08/20231adultMilnes, Emilyvc57_irecords_extractiBRC34529074
Woodland AveSK43R07/07/20231adultThorpe, Stevevc57_irecords_extractiBRC33496733
Woodland AveSK43R23/06/20231adultThorpe, Stevevc57_irecords_extractiBRC33496562
Wensleydale Road, Long EatonSK43R17/06/20232adultBryce, Marionvc57_irecords_extractiBRC30940160
IlkestonSK44Q18/09/20222larvaUrquhart-Hughes, Sianvc57_irecords_extractiBRC28128162
SandiacreSK43T11/06/20221adultMilnes, Emilyvc57_irecords_extractiBRC31220324
SandiacreSK43T10/06/20221adultMilnes, Emilyvc57_irecords_extractiBRC35176415
Woodland AveSK43R13/05/20221AdultThorpe, Stevevc57_irecords_extractiBRC27845588
Briar Close, Newhall, SwadlincoteSK22V02/07/20211adultPEACH, Mr K.Danes_2019-2021189
Woodland AveSK43R15/06/20211adultThorpe, Stevevc57_irecords_extractiBRC33498445
Woodland AveSK43R31/05/20212adultThorpe, Stevevc57_irecords_extractiBRC33498199
Elgar Drive, Sawley, Long EatonSK43R31/05/20211adultBRADDOCK, Mr A.Danes_2019-2021223
Woodland AveSK43R28/05/20211adultThorpe, Stevevc57_irecords_extractiBRC33498171
Woodland AveSK43R09/08/20201adultThorpe, Stevevc57_irecords_extractiBRC33502042
Woodland AveSK43R01/08/20201adultThorpe, Stevevc57_irecords_extractiBRC33501904
Woodland AveSK43R29/07/20201adultThorpe, Stevevc57_irecords_extractiBRC33501791
Woodland AveSK43R17/07/20201adultThorpe, Stevevc57_irecords_extractiBRC33501606
Woodland AveSK43R02/06/20201adultThorpe, Stevevc57_irecords_extractiBRC33500927
Woodland AveSK43R30/05/20201adultThorpe, Stevevc57_irecords_extractiBRC33500816
Woodland AveSK43R28/05/20201adultThorpe, Stevevc57_irecords_extractiBRC33500768
Marlborough Road, Long Eaton, DerbysSK43X20/05/20201adultBryce, Marionvc57_irecords_extractiBRC13645163
Woodland AveSK43R15/05/20201adultThorpe, Stevevc57_irecords_extractiBRC33500639
Elgar Drive, Sawley, Long EatonSK43R09/05/20201adultBRADDOCK, Mr A.Danes_2019-2021793

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