62.028 BF1454 - Pyralidae - Phycitinae - Dioryctria abietella
62.028 BF1454  – Dark Pine Knot-horn  – Dioryctria abietella  – (Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775)
Adult Micro:  CAT 2 – Can be confused with other species –      
PDF Icon – click for General Verification Guidelines  |   PDF Icon – click for Specific Verification Guidelines
Blue –  Generally Common / Widespread   
Taxonomy:   Micro   >>  Pyralidae  >> Phycitinae
Other Name/s: Pine Knot-horn
ID Difficulty:  amber  – care required in the identification process, as confusion with similar species is likely – quality photographs required.
Confusion Species:  D. abietella
ID pointers: There is considerable uncertainty to the status of the four Dioryctria species in Britain, as they are very difficult to tell apart. In particular, D. abietella and D. simplicella both are associated with pine. There is also some size overlap with D.sylvestrella, both being the largest of the four Dioryctria species. 
Distribution:  A species that has spread into the county due to the commercial planting of Pine, so likely to be common wherever there are Pine plantations.
General Comment: None
Flight Period: June /  July /  August /  September /  October –  On the wing during June- October. Moth Activity: Nocturnal   – occasionally attracted to light Photographed: Yes –  Photographed By: Will Soar; Dave Evans  © All Rights Reserved
*** Last updated on 2 October 2025 by RP ***
Wingspan: 26-32mm
Food Plant: Pine (Pinus sylvestris).
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:  Kings Newton, Derbyshire – Will Soar © / Belper – Dave Evans©



Temporal Distribution Chart
Adults: (between 2003 - 2025)
(click legend below to show/hide datasets)

Distribution Map for Dioryctria abietella

Found 45 records
    ↳ from 2026+
    ↳ 24 from 2020 - 2025
    ↳ 21 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 – Dioryctria abietella

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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: Dioryctria abietella
( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )

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

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

Hectad (10kmx10km) Coverage: Dioryctria abietella
( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )

Flight Periods – Indicative –vs– Recorded Data
Dioryctria abietella

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 - Dioryctria abietella – 45 records available

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

Site Name Tetrad Date Count Stage Recorder Source RecordKey
upper cromford garden SK25Y 27/07/2025 1 adult Ashton, Clive vc57_irecords_extract iBRC43939014
Belper SK34U 18/07/2025 1 adult Evans, Dave vc57_irecords_extract iBRC43630269
Findern, Derbyshire SK33A 17/07/2025 1 adult Hallam, Brian vc57_irecords_extract iBRC43595095
Longdendale, Torside willow and larch wood SK09U 13/07/2025 1 adult Heintzen, Christian vc57_irecords_extract iBRC43980309
Sandiacre Garden SK43T 25/10/2024 1 adult Milnes, Emily vc57_irecords_extract iBRC40274993
Buxton (w) SK07R 06/08/2024 1 adult White, Ian vc57_irecords_extract iBRC37740651
Wingerworth, Derbyshire SK36Y 27/07/2024 1 adult Windle, Jim vc57_irecords_extract iBRC37388035
Brockwell Chesterfield , Derbyshire. SK37Q 21/07/2024 1 adult Ellen Smith vc57_irecords_extract iBRC37298891
Midway, Derbys. SK32A 18/07/2024 1 adult Williams, Michael vc57_irecords_extract iBRC39954573
Woodland Ave SK43R 18/07/2024 1 adult Thorpe, Steve vc57_irecords_extract iBRC40044850
upper cromford garden SK25Y 17/07/2024 1 adult Ashton, Clive vc57_irecords_extract iBRC37142362
Ladycroft Ave, Buxton SK07S 14/07/2024 1 adult Orridge, Steve vc57_irecords_extract iBRC37492341
Allestree, Derby SK33P 10/07/2024 1 adult Plant, Stephen vc57_irecords_extract iBRC36978731
Sandiacre Garden SK43T 10/07/2024 1 adult Milnes, Emily vc57_irecords_extract iBRC39285051
Park Head, Crich. SK35M 30/06/2024 1 adult Bradley, Jonathan vc57_irecords_extract iBRC37928071
Allestree, Derby SK33P 27/06/2024 1 adult Plant, Stephen vc57_irecords_extract iBRC48470103
Belper SK34N 30/05/2024 1 adult Evans, Dave vc57_irecords_extract iBRC36187132
Woodland Ave SK43R 24/08/2021 1 adult Thorpe, Steve vc57_irecords_extract iBRC33499360
Woodland Ave SK43R 02/07/2021 1 adult Thorpe, Steve vc57_irecords_extract iBRC33498563
Main Street, Kings Newton SK32Y 17/08/2020 1 Adult Soar, Will vc57_irecords_extract iBRC34060541
The Mays, Malthouse Lane, Froggatt SK27N 08/08/2020 1 adult BARNACLE, Mr B.&.Mrs.K. Danes_2019-2021 414
Findern, Derbyshire, DEAZ SK33A 04/07/2020 1 adult Brian and Jean Hallam vc57_irecords_extract iBRC35163126
The Mays, Malthouse Lane, Froggatt SK27N 01/07/2020 1 adult BARNACLE, Mr B.&.Mrs.K. Danes_2019-2021 593
Woodland Ave SK43R 14/06/2020 1 adult Thorpe, Steve vc57_irecords_extract iBRC33501049
Birch Vale SK08I 02/08/2019 1 adult Hewitt, Jane vc57_irecords_extract iBRC35072088
Buxton SK, UK SK07S 17/07/2019 1 Adult Orridge, Steve vc57_irecords_extract iBRC25348200
Ladycroft Ave, Buxton SK07S 16/07/2019 1 adult Orridge, Steve vc57_irecords_extract iBRC35097135
DRONFIELD WOODHOUSE SK37J 01/07/2015 1 adult Williamson, Andy vc57_irecords_extract iBRC45698740
The Old Manse, Ault Hucknall, Glapwell SK46S 22/07/2013 1 Adult M.E. Bradley vc57_danes_bc_data LC000334001CP94V
The Mays,Malthouse Lane,Froggatt SK27N 15/07/2012 1 Adult Barnacle, Brian vc57_danes_bc_data LC000334001CP801
Whitesprings Plantation, Darley Dale SK26X 25/06/2011 1 Adult A. Butler vc57_danes_bc_data LC000334001COTVS
Robin Wood (central area) SK32M 04/08/2008 2 Adult Dave Budworth;P. Patrick;W. Soar vc57_danes_bc_data LC000334001CP4I7
Robin Wood SK32M 03/08/2008 11 Adult Soar, Will vc57_irecords_extract iBRC34677316
Melbourne, Derbyshire SK32X 04/07/2008 1 adult Davison, Tony vc57_irecords_extract iBRC33419350
Spinney Hill,Melbourne SK32X 04/07/2008 1 Adult Davison, Tony vc57_danes_bc_data LC000334001CP4BA
Midway Rd,Midway,Swadlincote SK32A 27/06/2008 1 Adult M.J. Williams vc57_danes_bc_data LC000334001COSIH
Far Cross,Cavendish Park,Matlock SK36A 23/08/2007 2 Adult B.L. Statham vc57_danes_bc_data LC000334001CP43W
Calke Park Ticknall Lime Yards SK32R 03/08/2007 1 adult Finch, Graham Leonard vc57_irecords_extract iBRC35106005
Ticknall Limeyards,Ticknall SK32R 03/08/2007 1 Adult G.L. Finch;M.A. Finch vc57_danes_bc_data LC000334001COSDC
Calke Park Meadow and Limes SK32R 08/07/2007 1 adult Finch, Graham Leonard vc57_irecords_extract iBRC35105723
Calke Park,Ticknall SK32R 06/07/2007 1 Adult Finch, Graham Leonard vc57_danes_bc_data LC000334001COS9F
The Hollies,Station Rd,Darley Dale SK26R 09/06/2007 1 Adult Roddis, Simon vc57_danes_bc_data LC000334001CP3TY
Edgecote Drive,Newhall,Swadlincote SK22V 21/09/2006 1 Adult Topliss, Neil vc57_danes_bc_data LC000334001CP3OT
The Hollies,Station Rd,Darley Dale SK26R 04/08/2004 1 Adult VC57 Derbyshire Recorder vc57_danes_bc_data LC000334001CP29R
Main Street, Kings Newton SK32Y 18/07/2003 1 Adult Soar, Will vc57_irecords_extract iBRC34677315

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