8.001 BF129 – Pale Feathered Cutter – Incurvaria pectinea – (Haworth, 1828)
Adult Micro: CAT 2 – Can be confused with other species – Leaf-miner: CAT L – The leaf or a Photo required – 
– click for General Verification Guidelines | – click for Specific Verification Guidelines
– click for General Verification Guidelines | – click for Specific Verification Guidelines 
– Uncertain/Unknown – Insufficient Data 
– Leaf-miner 
– Day-flying
– care required in the identification process, as confusion with similar species is likely – quality photographs required. Confusion Species: Incurvaria masculella
ID pointers: The larvae makes a ‘cut-out’ (small circular blotches) in the leaf which then falls to the ground, inside a case made from the cut-out. Initially a blotch mine is formed. Shown on Populus nigra (Black Poplar). More commonly found on Betula (Birch), Carpinus (Hornbeam), Malus (Apple) and Corylus (Hazel). Adults – Have comb-like pectinate antennae – dull grey-brown with a whitish spot on the dorsum about half way and a smaller more insignificant one near the tornus.
Distribution: (Last record: 29 April 2024 at Longdendale ) – National Status – Common, local in places – Derbyshire status unknown due to lack of data. Likely to be local where the food plants exist.
General Comment: None Mine Period Additional: Mine – May – June.
Mine ID Difficulty: Not Recorded
Mine Type/s: Not Recorded
Mine Feeding Method/s: Not Recorded
Mine Comment: None.
*** Last updated on 14 December 2025 by TD ***
Last Recorded Year: 2024
Last Recorded By – Christian Heintzen
Last Recorded General Area – Longdendale
Selected Images: Dave Evans – October 3rd 2021 – Wyver Lane, Belper – Christian Heintzen – adult – 29/4/24 – Longdendale.
Image Gallery
Temporal Distribution Chart
Adults: (between 1993 - 2024) | Immatures: (between 2010 - 2021)
(click legend below to show/hide datasets)
Distribution Map for Incurvaria pectinea
Found 13 records
↳ from 2026+
↳ 3 from 2020 - 2025
↳ 10 from Before 2020
↳ from 2026+
↳ 3 from 2020 - 2025
↳ 10 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 – Incurvaria pectinea
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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:
Incurvaria pectinea
( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )
Monthly Counts By Year:
Incurvaria pectinea
( data is based on 'Adult' stage records only )
First/Last Recorded Dates: Incurvaria pectinea
Adult-only & Anything [Larvae, Pupae, Adult, Mines]
Shading shows moth presence between dates
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Recordings By Year: Incurvaria pectinea
( All data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )
Annual Growth Rate (AGR): Incurvaria pectinea
AGR: 0% | Total % Change: 0%
Hectad (10kmx10km) Coverage: Incurvaria pectinea
( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )
Flight Periods – Indicative –vs– Recorded Data
Incurvaria pectinea
Incurvaria pectinea
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.
Mine Periods – Indicative –vs– Recorded Data
Incurvaria pectinea
Incurvaria pectinea
( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )
Mine 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 mine periods [month/s]. The coloured lines represent the actual months seen mining, from site observation records received between 2020-2026.
Records Behind the Map and Charts - Incurvaria pectinea – 13 records available
Listed by Year - descending - scroll across to see all table columns
| Site Name | Tetrad | Date | Count | Stage | Recorder | Source | RecordKey |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Longdendale, Wildboar Clough | SK09U | 29/04/2024 | 1 | adult | Heintzen, Christian | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC36371545 |
| Lady Canning's Plantation | SK28R | 21/06/2021 | 1 | mine (empty) | Watchorn, Andrew | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC20734083 |
| Lady Canning's Plantation | SK28W | 24/08/2020 | 1 | Larva | Watchorn, Andrew | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC17751347 |
| Ramsley Moor and Reservoir | SK27X | 08/07/2019 | 30 | Larva | Watchorn, Andrew | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC11091517 |
| Lady Canning's Plantation | SK28W | 28/08/2017 | 1 | Larva | Watchorn, Andrew | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC5705460 |
| Beeley to Rowsley | SK26T | 27/07/2017 | 20 | Larva | Watchorn, Andrew | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC5504908 |
| Monsal Dale and Upper Dale | SK17R | 14/10/2016 | 30 | mine (empty) | Watchorn, Andrew | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC20189615 |
| Shillito Wood | SK27X | 30/08/2016 | 50 | Larva | Watchorn, Andrew | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC4411472 |
| Cromford Moor and High Peak Trail | SK25X | 05/06/2014 | 1 | Larva | Watchorn, Andrew | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC6246976 |
| Ladybower Resr | SK18U | 03/09/2010 | 1 | Larval Feeding Signs | S.H. Hind | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001COXJE |
| Padley Gorge, Nether Padley | SK27P | 19/08/2010 | 1 | Larval Mine | S.H. Hind | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001CP6HR |
| Beeley Moor, Beeley (site not precise) | SK26Z | 19/05/1997 | 1 | Adult | VC57 Derbyshire Recorder | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001COZLH |
| Flash Lane,Beeley Moor (site not precise) | SK26Z | 01/05/1993 | 1 | Adult | VC57 Derbyshire Recorder | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001CP100 |