Grapholita compositella - Dave Evans
49.347 BF1241  – Meadow Tortrix  – Grapholita compositella  – (Fabricius, 1775)
Adult Micro:  CAT 1 – Distinctive species unlikely to be confused with others –      
PDF Icon – click for General Verification Guidelines  |   PDF Icon – click for Specific Verification Guidelines
Blue –  Generally Common / Widespread   
Taxonomy:   Micro   >>  Tortricidae  >> Olethreutinae
Other Name/s: Triple-stripe Piercer
ID Difficulty:  green  – easy to identify, generally distinctive and unlikely to be confused with other species.
ID pointers: A small attractive dark coloured moth apart from a fairly distinctive and characteristic dorsal blotch divided into four white striae or strigulae and eight shorter ones along the leading edge of forewing. A leaden coloured metallic patch or ocellus at the rear of the forewing.
Distribution:  Found in clover fields – Fairly widespread in Derbyshire.
General Comment: None
Flight Period: April /  May /  June /  July /  August –  On the wing during April – August. Moth Activity: Diurnal   – is often seen during the day Photographed: Yes –  Photographed By: Dave Evans  © All Rights Reserved
*** Last updated on 2 October 2025 by RP ***
Wingspan: 9=10mm
Food Plant: Clover.
Specific Recorded History Dates for Common [Blue code Blue-coded] moths is not displayed/updated in this tab. However, all verified records for this moth are listed in the RECORDS tab below.

Selected Images:  Belper, Derbyshire – Dave Evans©



Temporal Distribution Chart
Adults: (between 1976 - 2025)
(click legend below to show/hide datasets)

Distribution Map for Grapholita compositella

Found 27 records
    ↳ from 2026+
    ↳ 15 from 2020 - 2025
    ↳ 12 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 – Grapholita compositella

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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.

Visit NBN Site


Monthly Records By Year: Grapholita compositella
( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )

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

First/Last Recorded Dates: Grapholita compositella
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: Grapholita compositella
( All data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )
Annual Growth Rate (AGR): Grapholita compositella
AGR: -2.67%   |   Total % Change: -33.3%

Hectad (10kmx10km) Coverage: Grapholita compositella
( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )

Flight Periods – Indicative –vs– Recorded Data
Grapholita compositella

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 - Grapholita compositella – 27 records available

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

Site NameTetradDateCountStageRecorderSourceRecordKey
Gang Mine, CromfordSK25X02/06/20251adultAshton, Clivevc57_irecords_extractiBRC42019448
DWT Wyver LaneSK34P20/05/20251adultEvans, Davevc57_irecords_extractiBRC41723680
Stanton Lagoons Local Nature ReserveSK43U12/05/20251adultDownes, Nigelvc57_irecords_extractiBRC41535040
Stanton Lagoons, IlkestonSK43U02/05/20251adultPenson, Melanievc57_irecords_extractiBRC41539668
LUDWORTH MOORSJ99V02/06/20241adultBISSITT, ANDREWvc57_irecords_extractiBRC39737407
DWT Wyver LaneSK34P29/05/20241adultEvans, Davevc57_irecords_extractiBRC36168587
DWT Wyver LaneSK34P29/05/20241adultEvans, Davevc57_irecords_extractiBRC36168598
DWT Wyver LaneSK34P21/05/20241adultEvans, Davevc57_irecords_extractiBRC36041844
DWT Wyver LaneSK34P15/06/20231adultEvans, Davevc57_irecords_extractiBRC35307970
DWT Wyver LaneSK34P07/06/20232adultEvans, Davevc57_irecords_extractiBRC35307853
Barrow HillSK47H03/06/20231adultHewitt, Janevc57_irecords_extractiBRC34361576
Markma Vale , SeyourSK47L16/06/20221adultMorris, Sidvc57_irecords_extractiBRC25851499
Heanor and Loscoe, UKSK44I17/08/20211Adultlucyb_vc57_irecords_extractiBRC25379584
OwlthorpeSK48B15/08/20201adultSandra Fretwell-Smithvc57_irecords_extractiBRC17867777
OwlthorpeSK48B15/08/20201Adultyaffel7vc57_irecords_extractiBRC28849137
Jim Mart Nature ReserveSK36S21/06/20161AdultMahadevan, Nikkivc57_irecords_extractiBRC34908864
Middleton, DerbyshireSK25X24/05/20162AdultPlant, Stephenvc57_irecords_extractiBRC4404330
Millennium Meadow NR, DuffieldSK34L30/05/20141AdultVC57 Derbyshire Recordervc57_danes_bc_dataLC000334001COV14
Millennium Meadow NR, DuffieldSK34L04/07/20121AdultVC57 Derbyshire Recordervc57_danes_bc_dataLC000334001COY4Y
Pleasley Pit NR (Dragonfly pond ), PleasleySK46X15/07/20111AdultK.R. Hustonvc57_danes_bc_dataLC000334001CP79P
Longsidings Quarry,Peak DaleSK07X29/06/20111AdultK.R. Hustonvc57_danes_bc_dataLC000334001CP738
HeanorSK44I07/05/20111AdultWilliamBvc57_irecords_extractiBRC140348
Hicklinwood Farm (field pond), nr ClowneSK57D27/07/20101AdultK.R. Hustonvc57_danes_bc_dataLC000334001CP65R
Hicklinwood Farm (field pond), nr ClowneSK57D07/07/20102AdultK.R. Hustonvc57_danes_bc_dataLC000334001COX79
Dale Moor, Kirk HallamSK43P22/05/19931AdultVC57 Derbyshire Recordervc57_danes_bc_dataLC000334001CP104
Crich Chase, Ambergate (site not precise)SK35L23/05/19841AdultVC57 Derbyshire Recordervc57_danes_bc_dataLC000334001COQEV
Hilton Gravel Pits, Hilton, Burton on TrentSK23K31/07/19761AdultVC57 Derbyshire Recordervc57_danes_bc_dataLC000334001CP0JZ

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