Anacampsis populella - Tony Davison
35.011 BF0853  – Poplar Roller  – Anacampsis populella  – (Clerck, 1759)
Adult Micro:  CAT 4 – Dissection required – Gen-Det-Reqd       Leaf-miner:  CAT A – Recorded accepted without the leaf or a photo –       Larval Case:  C1 – Distinctive Species –      
PDF Icon – click for General Verification Guidelines  |   PDF Icon – click for Specific Verification Guidelines
Verification Notes: Can only reliably be identified by Genitalia Dissection

Black – Uncertain/Unknown – Insufficient Data   
Taxonomy:   Micro   >>  Gelechiidae  >> Anacampsinae
Other Name/s: Poplar Sober
ID Difficulty:  Red – difficult to identify – detailed examination required, often a Gen Det and/or specimen and quality photographs are required.
Confusion Species: Anacampsis blattariella
ID pointers: Two forms one fairly unmarked pale yellowish-greyish and a darker form. The darker form is grey with an obvious black area in the dorsal half of the forewing forming a large mark when the moth is at rest (Browner in the paler form). A white band across the wing (creamy in the paler form). Variably speckled in both forms.
Distribution:  (First record: 1916 )  –  (Last record: 21 August 2015 at Melbourne )  –  Presumably a localised species in the county where there is Poplar & Aspen. Harrison and Sterling list earliest record 1916-26 from Repton and Carvers Rocks – Abundant on Poplar and Aspen. Larvae May 1981 from Staunton Harold. Very few records, and since 1986 only three, one attracted to light from Melbourne 21/8/2015 (which was verified by the CMR at the time) and one from Toyota, Derby 28/7/2004 (verified at the time by CMR) and one from Chesterfield 25/8/2007.
General Comment: None
Flight Period: July /  August –  On the wing July & August. Moth Activity: Nocturnal   – and is attracted to light Photographed: Yes –  Photographed By: Tony Davison  © All Rights Reserved
*** Last updated on 27 January 2026 by TD ***
Wingspan: 14-19mm
Food Plant: Poplar, Willow & Aspen – food plant is different on A.blattariella
Last Recorded Year: 2015
First Recorded Year: 1916
Last Recorded By – Tony Davison (Gen Det by CMR)
Last Recorded General Area – Melbourne

Selected Images:  Melbourne, Derbyshire – Tony Davison ©

 


Temporal Distribution Chart
Adults: (between 1979 - 2024)
(click legend below to show/hide datasets)
 

Distribution Map for Anacampsis populella

Found 4 records
    ↳ from 2026+
    ↳ 1 from 2020 - 2025
    ↳ 3 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 – Anacampsis populella

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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: Anacampsis populella
( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )

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

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

Hectad (10kmx10km) Coverage: Anacampsis populella
( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )

Flight Periods – Indicative –vs– Recorded Data
Anacampsis populella

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 - Anacampsis populella – 4 records available

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

Site NameTetradDateCountStageRecorderSourceRecordKey
Drakelow, Derbys.SK22F22/07/20241adultWilliams, Michaelvc57_irecords_extractiBRC39954277
Holmewood,ChesterfieldSK46I25/08/20072AdultB.L. Stathamvc57_danes_bc_dataLC000334001COSFH
Burnaston (Toyota Plant NR), DerbySK23V28/07/20041AdultA. Davison;P. Precey;W. Soarvc57_danes_bc_dataLC000334001COZ6V
Carvers Rocks NR,Hartshorne,SwadlincoteSK32G30/07/19791AdultVC57 Derbyshire Recordervc57_danes_bc_dataLC000334001CP0MA

 
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