73.316 BF2084 – Light Feathered Rustic – Agrotis cinerea – (Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775)
Adult Macro: CAT 2 – Can be confused with other species – Good photographs maybe required – 
– click for Adult Macro Verification Guidelines
– click for Adult Macro Verification Guidelines
– Rare / Uncommon / Scarce
– care required in the identification process, as confusion with similar species is likely – quality photographs required. ID pointers: A short stubby shaped moth with broad forewings. Several dark spots along leading edge of forewing. A black wavy cross-line at the base and another cross the central area of the forewing. Wing greyish- brown or bluish-grey. A dark kidney mark and a brown wavy cross-line through centre of forewing. Ground colour is variable and there are a number of colour forms.
Distribution: (First record: 1983 at Dovedale ) – (Last record: 16 May 2025 at Wardlow ) – A rare moth in Derbyshire with few records, the majority of which are reported from the northern half of the county. Recent records from Cromford, and Sandiacre in 2023, may indicate some range expansion.
General Comment: None *** Last updated on 4 March 2026 by TD ***
Forewing: 13-17mm
Last Recorded Year: 2025
First Recorded Year: 1983
Last Recorded By – Neil Fletcher
Last Recorded General Area – Wardlow
Selected Images:
Image Gallery
Temporal Distribution Chart
Adults: (between 1957 - 2025)
(click legend below to show/hide datasets)
Distribution Map for Agrotis cinerea
Found 41 records
↳ from 2026+
↳ 16 from 2020 - 2025
↳ 25 from Before 2020
↳ from 2026+
↳ 16 from 2020 - 2025
↳ 25 from Before 2020
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 – Agrotis cinerea
⚠️ Please wait for the map to load fully – do not click the link shown.
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:
Agrotis cinerea
( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )
Monthly Counts By Year:
Agrotis cinerea
( data is based on 'Adult' stage records only )
First/Last Recorded Dates: Agrotis cinerea
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: Agrotis cinerea
( All data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )
Annual Growth Rate (AGR): Agrotis cinerea
AGR: -3.78% | Total % Change: -50%
Hectad (10kmx10km) Coverage: Agrotis cinerea
( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )
Flight Periods – Indicative –vs– Recorded Data
Agrotis cinerea
Agrotis cinerea
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 - Agrotis cinerea – 41 records available
Listed by Year - descending - scroll across to see all table columns
| Site Name | Tetrad | Date | Count | Stage | Recorder | Source | RecordKey |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wardlow, Roost Barn | SK17X | 16/05/2025 | 1 | adult | Fletcher, Neil | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC41789725 |
| Wardlow | SK17X | 15/05/2025 | 1 | adult | Fletcher, Neil | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC41710238 |
| Sandiacre | SK43T | 23/06/2023 | 1 | adult | Milnes, Emily | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC34377335 |
| Buxton SK, UK | SK07S | 30/05/2023 | 1 | Adult | Orridge, Steve | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC30598255 |
| Upper Cromford Garden | SK25Y | 24/05/2023 | 1 | adult | Ashton, Clive | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC34568222 |
| Buxton SK, UK | SK07S | 24/05/2022 | 1 | Adult | Orridge, Steve | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC28579055 |
| Ferneydale Avenue | SK07Q | 21/05/2022 | 1 | adult | Wakefield, Rowan | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC34939425 |
| Buxton SK, UK | SK07S | 29/05/2020 | 1 | Adult | Orridge, Steve | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC22258584 |
| Ladycroft Ave, Buxton | SK07S | 28/05/2020 | 1 | adult | Orridge, Steve | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC35094953 |
| Buxton SK, UK | SK07S | 22/05/2020 | 1 | Adult | Orridge, Steve | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC22248828 |
| Middleton by Youlgreave | SK16W | 21/05/2020 | 1 | adult | Aston, Doug | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC39286003 |
| Ladycroft Ave, Buxton | SK07S | 18/05/2020 | 2 | adult | Orridge, Steve | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC35094795 |
| Ladycroft Ave, Buxton | SK07S | 17/05/2020 | 1 | adult | Orridge, Steve | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC35094778 |
| Ladycroft Ave, Buxton | SK07S | 15/05/2020 | 1 | adult | Orridge, Steve | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC35094755 |
| Ladycroft Ave, Buxton | SK07S | 14/05/2020 | 1 | adult | Orridge, Steve | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC35094746 |
| Ladycroft Ave, Buxton | SK07S | 07/05/2020 | 1 | adult | Orridge, Steve | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC35094709 |
| Ashford In the Water (Marble Mill) | SK16Z | 26/05/2019 | 1 | adult | BELL, Mr S. | Danes_2019-2021 | 1625 |
| Parsley Hay (Peak Park Ranger Base) | SK16L | 12/06/2016 | 1 | Adult | S. Bell | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001WPI9R |
| Hartington (station tip) | SK16K | 05/06/2016 | 1 | Adult | S. Bell | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001WQJMV |
| Ladycroft Ave | SK07S | 21/06/2013 | 1 | adult | Orridge, Steve | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC40990685 |
| Ladycroft Ave | SK07S | 19/06/2013 | 1 | adult | Orridge, Steve | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC40990654 |
| Oaks Barn Cottage, Monyash Rd, Over Haddon, Bakewell | SK26D | 02/06/2011 | 21 | Adult | D.A. Clarke | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001OK62P |
| Oaks Barn Cottage, Monyash Rd, Over Haddon, Bakewell | SK26D | 01/06/2011 | 1 | Adult | D.A. Clarke | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001OK611 |
| Ladycroft Ave,Buxton | SK07S | 20/05/2011 | 1 | Adult | Orridge, Steve | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001OKZOU |
| Ladycroft Ave, Buxton | SK07S | 20/05/2011 | 1 | Adult | Orridge, Steve | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001WPD1P |
| Buxton SK, UK | SK07S | 18/05/2011 | 1 | Adult | Orridge, Steve | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC22503687 |
| Ladycroft Ave,Buxton | SK07S | 17/05/2011 | 1 | Adult | Orridge, Steve | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001OKZL6 |
| Ladycroft Ave, Buxton | SK07S | 17/05/2011 | 1 | Adult | Orridge, Steve | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001WQAUB |
| The Hollies,Station Rd,Darley Dale | SK26R | 10/05/2011 | 1 | Adult | Roddis, Simon | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001OK5U0 |
| Biggin Dale, nr Hartington | SK15P | 12/06/2010 | 2 | Adult | David Grundy | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001OKSOH |
| Dovedale | SK15K | 07/06/2010 | 2 | Adult | David Grundy | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001OKSES |
| Dovedale | SK15K | 07/06/2010 | 3 | Adult | David Grundy | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001OLFHT |
| Dovedale | SK15K | 07/06/2010 | 1 | Adult | David Grundy | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001OLFI7 |
| Oaks Barn Cottage, Monyash Rd, Over Haddon, Bakewell | SK26D | 28/05/2010 | 1 | Adult | D.A. Clarke | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001OKRV5 |
| Oaks Barn Cottage, Monyash Rd, Over Haddon, Bakewell | SK26D | 10/06/2009 | 1 | Adult | D.A. Clarke | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001OKN84 |
| Hartington (Station Waste Tip) | SK16K | 30/05/2009 | 2 | Adult | S. Bell | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001OK16X |
| Beresford Dale (Tower),Hartington | SK26D | 23/05/2007 | 2 | Adult | D.A. Clarke | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001OJIG0 |
| Wilmot St, Sawley, Long Eaton | SK43R | 11/06/1992 | 1 | Adult | A. Braddock | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001OHLIC |
| Wilmot St, Sawley, Long Eaton | SK43R | 14/05/1992 | 1 | Adult | A. Braddock | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001OIVUC |
| Dovedale (stepping stones) | SK15K | 12/06/1986 | 23 | Adult | VC57 Derbyshire Recorder | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001OHZD5 |
| Over Haddon, Bakewell (site not precise) | SK26D | 13/06/1957 | 1 | Adult | Unknown | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001OIDIJ |