Duponchelia fovealis - Paul Buxton
63.046 BF1403a  – European Pepper Moth  – Duponchelia fovealis  – (Zeller, 1847)
Adult Micro:  CAT 1 – Distinctive species unlikely to be confused with others –      
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Green –  Rare / Uncommon / Scarce   
Taxonomy:   Micro   >>  Crambidae  >> Spilomelinae
Other Name/s: Dark Marbled Tabby
ID Difficulty:  green  – easy to identify, generally distinctive and unlikely to be confused with other species.
ID pointers: A pyralid that is marked very similarly to Mother Shipton Moth. Within the outer cross-line there is an obvious finger that points towards the outer edge of the wing. Sits with the tip of the abdomen pointing upwards. The abdomen is also marked with three dark bands and four thin pale whitish-cream bands. Forewings marked with various shades of brown being darker at the wing tips.
Distribution:  (Last record: 8 August 2025 at Littleover, Derby )  –  This is the second Derbyshire record, the first being recorded at Glapwell, near Bolsover, in 2010. It is an adventive species, which is generally thought to be imported into the country with cultivated plants. First recorded indoors in 1996. It is an endemic of the Mediterranean region and the Canary Islands, but is rapidly expanding its range.
General Comment: None
Flight Period: May /  June –  Usually occurs during May – June. Moth Activity: Nocturnal  Photographed: Yes –  Photographed By: Paul Buxton, Adrian Watson  © All Rights Reserved
*** Last updated on 2 October 2025 by RP ***
Wingspan: c.20mm
Food Plant: Cultivated plants.
Last Recorded Year: 2025
Last Recorded By – Adrian Watson
Last Recorded General Area – Littleover, Derby

Selected Images:  Long Eaton, Derbyshire – Paul Buxton© / Littleover – Adrian Watson©



Temporal Distribution Chart
Adults: (between 2010 - 2025)
(click legend below to show/hide datasets)

Distribution Map for Duponchelia fovealis

Found 6 records
    ↳ from 2026+
    ↳ 5 from 2020 - 2025
    ↳ 1 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 – Duponchelia fovealis

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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: Duponchelia fovealis
( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )

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

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

Hectad (10kmx10km) Coverage: Duponchelia fovealis
( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )

Flight Periods – Indicative –vs– Recorded Data
Duponchelia fovealis

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 - Duponchelia fovealis – 6 records available

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

Site NameTetradDateCountStageRecorderSourceRecordKey
DE, DerbySK33I08/08/20251adultWatson, Adrianvc57_irecords_extractiBRC44281384
Derbyshire, England, GBSK34Q26/07/20251Adultrowanskamvc57_irecords_extractiBRC48614495
South YorkshireSK38L10/03/20241Adultshriekingwhalesvc57_irecords_extractiBRC35070052
Findern, Derbyshire, DEAZSK33A10/08/20221adultBrian and Jean Hallamvc57_irecords_extractiBRC35167522
Douglas Rd, Long EatonSK43S26/08/20201AdultBUXTON, Mr P.Danes_2019-2021357
Back Lane,GlapwellSK46T01/09/20101AdultH.E. Beaumont;J. Culpinvc57_danes_bc_dataLC000334001COTOB

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