49.155 BF1086  –  Tortricidae –  Olethreutinae – Hedya salicella – White-backed Tortrix – (Linnaeus, 1758) 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
Green –  Rare / Uncommon / Scarce   
Taxonomy:   Micro   >>  Tortricidae  >> Olethreutinae
Other Name/s: White-backed Marble
ID Difficulty:  green  – easy to identify, generally distinctive and unlikely to be confused with other species.
ID pointers: Another bird dropping mimic. A large Hedya species that shows large areas of white on the forewing and a distinctive chestnut and grey crest on the thorax. The basal area of the forewing is white, the remaining third of forewing is dark blackish-brown over-layered and mottled with bluish-purple markings.
Distribution:  (Last record: 10 June 2025 at Willington Wetlands NR )  –  So few records since 1982, the current status would indicate this moth is uncommon across the county favouring the lowland areas wherever there is Sallow Carr. One discovered resting during the day at Willington on 10th June 2025,
General Comment: None
Flight Period: June /  July /  August /  September –  On the wing during June – September. Moth Activity: Nocturnal   – and is attracted to light Photographed: Yes –  Photographed By: Dave Evans; Neil Loverock  © All Rights Reserved
*** Last updated on 2 October 2025 by RP ***
Wingspan: 19-24mm
Food Plant: Sallow (Salix) and Poplar (Populus).
Last Recorded Year: 2025
Last Recorded By – Neil Loverock
Last Recorded General Area – Willington Wetlands NR

Selected Images:  Belper, Derbyshire – Dave Evans© / Willington (2025) Neil Loverock©



Distribution Map for Hedya salicella

Found 23 records
    ↳ from 2026+
    ↳ 13 from 2020 - 2025
    ↳ 10 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 – Hedya salicella

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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: Hedya salicella
( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )

Monthly Counts By Year: Hedya salicella
( data is based on 'Adult' stage records only. )


First/Last Recorded Dates: Hedya salicella
Adult-only & Anything [Larvae, Pupae, Adult, Mines]

Shading shows moth presence between dates

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Recordings By Year: Hedya salicella
( All data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )
Annual Growth Rate (AGR): Hedya salicella
AGR: -2.97%   |   Total % Change: -50%

Hectad (10kmx10km) Coverage: Hedya salicella
( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )

Flight Periods – Indicative –vs– Recorded Data
Hedya salicella
( data includes Adult Stage only )

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 - Hedya salicella – 23 records available

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

Site NameTetradDateCountStageSource
BelperSK34U26/07/20251adultvc57_irecords_extract
Markham Vale DerbyshireSK47K29/06/20251adultvc57_irecords_extract
Barrow upon Trent, DerbyshireSK32J11/06/20251adultvc57_irecords_extract
Willington WetlandsSK22T10/06/20251adultvc57_irecords_extract
Markham Vale South TipSK47L23/06/20241adultvc57_irecords_extract
Orchid WoodSK43L08/09/20232adultvc57_irecords_extract
Ninelands RoadSK28F07/07/20231adultvc57_irecords_extract
Woodland AveSK43R30/06/20231adultvc57_irecords_extract
Woodland AveSK43R16/07/20221Adultvc57_irecords_extract
Not givenSK22F08/07/20212Adultvc57_irecords_extract
BelperSK34U08/07/20211adultvc57_irecords_extract
Drakelow, Derbys.SK22F08/07/20212adultvc57_irecords_extract
Findern, Derbyshire, DEAZSK33A21/07/20201adultvc57_irecords_extract
Burnaston (Toyota Plant NR), DerbySK23V20/07/20136Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Clough Wood,Darley DaleSK26K14/07/20111Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
The Hollies,Station Rd,Darley DaleSK26R31/07/20101Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Midway Rd,Midway,SwadlincoteSK32A09/07/20101Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
The Hollies,Station Rd,Darley DaleSK26R12/07/20091Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Foremark Resr, TicknallSK32H09/07/20051Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Williamthorpe NRSK46I06/10/20022Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Borrowash (Canal), Borrowash, DerbySK43C19/07/19961Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Acton Rd Ind Est, Long EatonSK43W28/06/19951Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Mapperley NR, Mapperley, IlkestonSK44G18/07/19811Adultvc57_danes_bc_data

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