35.123 BF819 – Bittersweet Moth – Scrobipalpa costella – (Humphreys & Westwood, 1845)
Adult Micro: CAT 1 – Distinctive species unlikely to be confused with others –
– click for General Verification Guidelines | – click for Specific Verification Guidelines
– click for General Verification Guidelines | – click for Specific Verification Guidelines 
– Rare / Uncommon / Scarce
– easy to identify, generally distinctive and unlikely to be confused with other species.ID pointers: Forewing a yellowish-brown or reddish-brown with a large dark brown almost triangular shaped blotch about half way along the leading edge of the wing.
Distribution: (Last record: 4 August 2023 at Waingrove Woods, Ripley ) – Localised with only around five sites where it has been recorded in the county. A species that should be found where there is Woody Nightshade (Bittersweet).
General Comment: None *** Last updated on 2 October 2025 by RP ***
Last Recorded Year: 2023
Last Recorded By – Steve Thorpe
Last Recorded General Area – Waingrove Woods, Ripley
Selected Images: Belper, Derbyshire – Dave Evans ©
Image Gallery
No gallery images found for this moth.
Temporal Distribution Chart
Adults: (between 1995 - 2025)
(click legend below to show/hide datasets)
Distribution Map for Scrobipalpa costella
Found 33 records
↳ from 2026+
↳ 11 from 2020 - 2025
↳ 22 from Before 2020
↳ from 2026+
↳ 11 from 2020 - 2025
↳ 22 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 – Scrobipalpa costella
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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:
Scrobipalpa costella
( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )
Monthly Counts By Year:
Scrobipalpa costella
( data is based on 'Adult' stage records only )
First/Last Recorded Dates: Scrobipalpa costella
Adult-only & Anything [Larvae, Pupae, Adult, Mines]
Shading shows moth presence between dates
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Recordings By Year: Scrobipalpa costella
( All data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )
Annual Growth Rate (AGR): Scrobipalpa costella
AGR: -4.87% | Total % Change: -66.7%
Hectad (10kmx10km) Coverage: Scrobipalpa costella
( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )
Flight Periods – Indicative –vs– Recorded Data
Scrobipalpa costella
Scrobipalpa costella
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 - Scrobipalpa costella – 33 records available
Listed by Year - descending - scroll across to see all table columns
| Site Name | Tetrad | Date | Count | Stage | Recorder | Source | RecordKey |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wingerworth, Derbyshire | SK36Y | 17/09/2025 | 1 | adult | Windle, Jim | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC45404060 |
| sheffield | SK38M | 17/08/2025 | 1 | adult | Turner, Jan | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC44703739 |
| Belper | SK34N | 07/08/2025 | 1 | adult | Evans, Dave | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC44278566 |
| sheffield | SK38M | 29/05/2025 | 1 | adult | Turner, Jan | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC41987734 |
| Drakelow, Derbys. | SK22F | 22/07/2024 | 1 | adult | Williams, Michael | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC39954276 |
| Waingroves Woods | SK44E | 04/08/2023 | 1 | adult | Thorpe, Steve | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC33496936 |
| Woodland Ave | SK43R | 05/11/2021 | 1 | adult | Thorpe, Steve | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC33499784 |
| Woodland Ave | SK43R | 23/10/2021 | 1 | adult | Thorpe, Steve | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC33499777 |
| Main Street, Kings Newton | SK32Y | 23/10/2021 | 1 | Adult | Soar, Will | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC34060076 |
| Woodland Ave | SK43R | 24/08/2021 | 1 | adult | Thorpe, Steve | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC33499385 |
| Belper | SK34N | 07/05/2020 | 1 | adult | Evans, Dave | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC48725577 |
| Belper | SK34N | 25/05/2019 | 1 | adult | Evans, Dave | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC35346587 |
| Main Street, Kings Newton | SK32Y | 08/06/2018 | 1 | Adult | Soar, Will | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC34060077 |
| Main Street, Kings Newton | SK32Y | 18/07/2016 | 1 | Adult | Soar, Will | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC34060078 |
| Main Street, Kings Newton | SK32Y | 21/08/2013 | 1 | Adult | Soar, Will | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC34680196 |
| Bamford St,Ripley | SK34Z | 14/08/2012 | 1 | Adult | Thorpe, Steve | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001CP8H9 |
| Rose Av,Clowne | SK57D | 05/06/2010 | 1 | Adult | D. Hursthouse | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001CP5BP |
| Main Street, Kings Newton | SK32Y | 18/08/2008 | 1 | Adult | Soar, Will | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC34680195 |
| Midway Rd,Midway,Swadlincote | SK32A | 25/07/2008 | 1 | Adult | M.J. Williams | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001CP4FF |
| Midway Rd,Midway,Swadlincote | SK32A | 31/05/2008 | 1 | Adult | M.J. Williams | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001COSHU |
| Drakelow NR,Burton on Trent | SK22F | 06/10/2007 | 1 | Adult | M.J. Williams | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001COSGD |
| Midway Rd,Midway,Swadlincote | SK32A | 01/09/2007 | 1 | Adult | M.J. Williams | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001CP44G |
| Calke Park Ridge from Fisherman's Car Park | SK32R | 24/04/2007 | 1 | adult | Finch, Graham Leonard | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC35105792 |
| Calke Park,Ticknall | SK32R | 24/04/2007 | 1 | Adult | Finch, Graham Leonard | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001CP3RB |
| Main Street, Kings Newton | SK32Y | 15/09/2006 | 1 | Adult | Soar, Will | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC34680194 |
| Main St,Kings Newton,Melbourne | SK32Y | 15/09/2006 | 1 | Adult | Soar, Will | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001COS1B |
| Edgecote Drive,Newhall,Swadlincote | SK22V | 29/10/2004 | 1 | Adult | Topliss, Neil | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001CP2GH |
| Main Street, Kings Newton | SK32Y | 13/08/2004 | 1 | Adult | Soar, Will | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC34680193 |
| Main St,Kings Newton,Melbourne | SK32Y | 13/08/2004 | 1 | Adult | Soar, Will | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001CORFQ |
| Edgecote Drive,Newhall,Swadlincote | SK22V | 11/02/2004 | 1 | Adult | Topliss, Neil | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001COVJO |
| Edgecote Drive,Newhall,Swadlincote | SK22V | 11/02/2004 | 1 | Adult | Topliss, Neil | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001COVJQ |
| Chunnal Moor (Gnat Hole Wood), Glossop | SK09G | 24/08/2003 | 3 | Adult | FARRELL, Mr S., GREENALL, Mr P., SMART, Mr B., FLE | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001COZPI |
| Acton Rd Ind Est, Long Eaton | SK43W | 25/07/1995 | 1 | Adult | VC57 Derbyshire Recorder | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001CP184 |