72.081 BF2455 – Dark Crimson Underwing – Erebidae – Catocala sponsa

72.081 BF2455 – Erebidae – Erebinae – Catocala sponsa – Dark Crimson Underwing – (Linnaeus, 1767)

Adult Macro: CAT 2 – Can be confused with other species – Good photographs maybe required –

– click for Adult Macro Verification Guidelines

– Significant Record / Very Rare / Vagrant – Red-listed

Taxonomy: Macro >> Erebidae >> Erebinae

ID Difficulty: amber

– care required in the identification process, as confusion with similar species is likely – quality photographs required.

ID pointers: As the name suggests the hind-wing is a bright crimson that is crossed by a black thinnish wavy cross-band and a black border to the edge of the hind-wing. The upper forewings are dark and subtly marked with an intricate mottling of browns, greys and tawny spots and markings. There are, in each forewing, an obvious set of three whitish markings, which seem obvious. The shape of the black band on the hind-wing is characteristic. The wavy black stripe across the crimson hindwing is contorted into a deep W-shape. This is clearly shown in the first and second images.

Distribution: (First record: 11 August 2023 at Shirland ) – (Last record: 11 July 2025 at Chaddesden ) – A new species for Derbyshire. A single specimen trapped at Shirland overnight, on 10th August 2023. Another amazing record for the county, as it only occurs as a breeding species in the New Forest, and otherwise is only occasionally recorded as a rare migrant. Classed as a Red Data Book category RDB3. – The second county record was recorded from Chaddesden on 11th July 2025.

General Comment: None

Flight Period: August / September – On the wing August – September.

Moth Activity: Nocturnal Crepuscular – is attracted to light and sugar

*** Last updated on 2 October 2025 by RP ***

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Wingspan: 60-70mm
Forewing: 29-34mm

Food Plant: Pendunculate Oak and Sessile Oak

Last Recorded Year: 2025

First Recorded Year: 2023

Last Recorded By – Martin Roome

Last Recorded General Area – Chaddesden

Selected Images: Images kindly provided by Nikki Mahadevan © – Shirland – August 11th 2023. / 2nd record 11th July 2025 – Chaddesden – Martin Roome©

Dark Crimson Underwing 1st record for VC57 Derbyshire – 11th August 2023 – Shirland – Nikki Mahadevan

Dark Crimson Underwing – 11th July 2025 – Chaddesden – Martin Roome

Image Gallery

Distribution Map for Catocala sponsa

Found 2 records
    ↳ from 2026+
    ↳ 2 from 2020 - 2025
    ↳ from Before 2020

Flying

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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 – Catocala sponsa

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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: Catocala sponsa

( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )

Monthly Counts By Year: Catocala sponsa

( data is based on 'Adult' stage records only. )

First/Last Recorded Dates: Catocala sponsa

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: Catocala sponsa

( All data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )

Annual Growth Rate (AGR): Catocala sponsa

AGR: 0% | Total % Change: 0%

Hectad (10kmx10km) Coverage: Catocala sponsa

( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )

Flight Periods – Indicative –vs– Recorded Data
Catocala sponsa

( 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 - Catocala sponsa – 2 records available

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

Site Name	Tetrad	Date	Count	Stage	Source
Chaddesden, Derby	SK33T	13/07/2025	1	adult	vc57_irecords_extract
Shirland - Hallfieldgate Lane	SK35Z	10/08/2023	1	Adult	vc57_irecords_extract

– Significant Record / Very Rare / Vagrant – Red-listed

Distribution Map for Catocala sponsa

NBN Atlas UK Distribution for – Catocala sponsa

Monthly Records By Year: Catocala sponsa

( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )

Monthly Counts By Year: Catocala sponsa

( data is based on 'Adult' stage records only. )

First/Last Recorded Dates: Catocala sponsa

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: Catocala sponsa

( All data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )

Annual Growth Rate (AGR): Catocala sponsa

AGR: 0% | Total % Change: 0%

Hectad (10kmx10km) Coverage: Catocala sponsa

( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )

Flight Periods – Indicative –vs– Recorded DataCatocala sponsa

( data includes Adult Stage only )

Records Behind the Map and Charts - Catocala sponsa – 2 records available

Flight Periods – Indicative –vs– Recorded Data
Catocala sponsa