– click for Adult Macro Verification Guidelines Verification Notes: A species in decline CAT set to CAT2 – photos required
– Rare / Uncommon / Scarce 
– Red-listed
– easy to identify, generally distinctive and unlikely to be confused with other species.ID pointers: A rather thick set moth with broad wings that are blackish with bright creamy-yellow cross-lines and also outlined oval and kidney mark. The whole wing is dusted in a golden yellow and several cross-lines are also bordered in golden yellow.
Distribution: (First record: 1952 ) – (Last record: 23 August 2023 at Cromford ) – A nationally endangered species with a large decline in population. A resident that is generally uncommon and confined to the central and northern areas of Derbyshire. The population has declined in recent years and the moth is now only found in small numbers. First recorded in Derbyshire in 1952 and first record this century was in 2006.
General Comment: None *** Last updated on 15 January 2026 by TD ***
Forewing: 15-19mm
First Recorded Year: 1952
Last Recorded By – Clive Ashton
Last Recorded General Area – Cromford
Selected Images: Froggatt, Derbyshire – Bryan Barnacle©
Image Gallery
Distribution Map for Tholera cespitis
Found 57 records
↳ from 2026+
↳ 6 from 2020 - 2025
↳ 51 from Before 2020
↳ from 2026+
↳ 6 from 2020 - 2025
↳ 51 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 – Tholera cespitis
⚠️ 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:
Tholera cespitis
( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )
Monthly Counts By Year: Tholera cespitis
( data is based on 'Adult' stage records only. )
First/Last Recorded Dates: Tholera cespitis
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: Tholera cespitis
( All data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )
Annual Growth Rate (AGR): Tholera cespitis
AGR: 0% | Total % Change: 0%
Hectad (10kmx10km) Coverage: Tholera cespitis
( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )
Flight Periods – Indicative –vs– Recorded Data
Tholera cespitis
Tholera cespitis
( 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 - Tholera cespitis – 57 records available
Listed by Year - descending - scroll across to see all table columns
| Site Name | Tetrad | Date | Count | Stage | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bamford, Hope Valley SBE, UK | SK28B | 30/08/2025 | 1 | Adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| Hathersage | SK28F | 25/08/2025 | 1 | adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| Bamford, Hope Valley SBE, UK | SK28B | 25/08/2025 | 1 | Adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| Hathersage | SK28F | 22/08/2025 | 1 | adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| Upper Cromford Garden | SK25Y | 23/08/2023 | 1 | adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| Hathersage, Derbyshire, UK | SK28F | 28/08/2022 | 1 | adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| Ashford In the Water (Marble Mill) | SK16Z | 10/09/2019 | 1 | adult | Danes_2019-2021 |
| The Mays, Malthouse Lane, Froggatt | SK27N | 08/09/2019 | 1 | adult | Danes_2019-2021 |
| Not given | SK27N | 12/09/2015 | 1 | Adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| Jim Mart Nature Reserve | SK36S | 03/09/2013 | 1 | Adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| Hartington (station quarry) | SK16K | 03/09/2013 | 1 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Lang Rd, Alvaston, Derby | SK33R | 25/06/2013 | 1 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Oaks Barn Cottage, Monyash Rd, Over Haddon, Bakewell | SK26D | 04/09/2011 | 1 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| The Mays,Malthouse Lane,Froggatt | SK27N | 04/09/2011 | 1 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| The Mays,Malthouse Lane,Froggatt | SK27N | 04/09/2011 | 1 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| The Mays,Malthouse Lane,Froggatt | SK27N | 03/09/2011 | 1 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Lathkill Dale (woodland edge),Youlgreave | SK16X | 03/09/2011 | 3 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Lathkill Dale (woodland edge),Youlgreave | SK16X | 03/09/2011 | 3 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| The Mays,Malthouse Lane,Froggatt | SK27N | 03/09/2011 | 1 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Dovedale | SK15K | 29/08/2011 | 4 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Dovedale | SK15K | 29/08/2011 | 1 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Dovedale | SK15K | 29/08/2011 | 4 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Dovedale | SK15K | 29/08/2011 | 1 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Dovedale (stepping stones) | SK15K | 19/09/2010 | 5 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Dovedale | SK15K | 19/09/2010 | 2 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Dovedale | SK15K | 19/09/2010 | 5 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Dovedale | SK15K | 19/09/2010 | 2 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| School Close,Parkway Gardens,Darley Dale | SK26R | 01/09/2000 | 1 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| School Close,Parkway Gardens,Darley Dale | SK26R | 01/09/2000 | 1 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| The Field,Shipley,Ilkeston | SK44M | 24/08/1995 | 1 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| The Field,Shipley,Ilkeston | SK44M | 24/08/1995 | 1 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Beeley Moor, Beeley (site not precies) | SK26Z | 24/08/1986 | 1 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Beeley Lodge, Chatsworth | SK26U | 10/09/1982 | 1 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Beeley Lodge, Chatsworth Park | SK26U | 10/09/1982 | 1 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Askew Grove, Repton | SK32D | 07/09/1981 | 1 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Wragg's Quarry,Rowsley Moor | SK26Y | 05/09/1981 | 1 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Wragg's Quarry, Beeley Moor, Beeley | SK26Y | 05/09/1981 | 1 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Askew Grove, Repton | SK32D | 08/08/1981 | 1 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Atlow Mill, Derbs. | SK24J | 05/08/1979 | 1 | Adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| Moorlawn Ave, Holymoorside | SK36P | 10/10/1978 | 1 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Moorlawn Ave, Holymoorside | SK36P | 10/10/1978 | 1 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Atlow Mill, Derbs. | SK24J | 02/09/1975 | 1 | Adult | vc57_irecords_extract |
| The Old Manse, Ault Hucknall, Glapwell | SK46S | 07/09/1968 | 1 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Berry St, Hepthorne Lane, North Wingfield | SK46C | 06/09/1968 | 1 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| The Old Manse, Ault Hucknall, Glapwell | SK46S | 31/08/1968 | 1 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| The Old Manse, Ault Hucknall, Glapwell | SK46S | 30/08/1968 | 1 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Newbold Rd, Chesterfield | SK37R | 01/09/1962 | 1 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Newbold Rd, Chesterfield | SK37R | 28/08/1962 | 1 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Gladwin's Mark, Beeley Moor | SK36D | 10/09/1960 | 1 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Moorend, Beeley, Matlock | SK26T | 01/09/1959 | 2 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Moorend, Beeley | SK26T | 01/09/1959 | 2 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Moorend, Beeley, Matlock | SK26T | 28/08/1959 | 1 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Moorend, Beeley | SK26T | 28/08/1959 | 1 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Newbold Ave, Chesterfield | SK37R | 21/08/1959 | 1 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Moorend, Beeley, Matlock | SK26T | 20/08/1959 | 1 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Moorend, Beeley | SK26T | 20/08/1959 | 1 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |
| Newbold Ave, Chesterfield | SK37R | 05/09/1957 | 1 | Adult | vc57_danes_bc_data |