73.246 BF2185 – Lead-coloured Drab – Orthosia populeti – (Fabricius, 1781)
Adult Macro: CAT 3 – Difficult to identify – Quality set of photographs required – 
– click for Adult Macro Verification Guidelines
– click for Adult Macro Verification Guidelines
– Significant Record / Very Rare / Vagrant
– care required in the identification process, as confusion with similar species is likely – quality photographs required. Confusion Species: Clouded Drab; Common Quaker
ID pointers: The wings are grey brown and rounded at the tip. Very plainly marked but there is often a row of small black dots along the inner edge of the fringed outer wing. Male has feathered antennae.
Distribution: (Last record: 2021 ) – A resident that has become exceedingly rare and locally distributed in Derbyshire. Was a common species, especially in the south but now restricted to woodland containing Aspen (Populus tremula). Since 2007 there has been one record in 2019, and one record in 2021.
General Comment: None *** Last updated on 13 January 2026 by TD ***
Forewing: 15-17mm
Last Recorded Year: 2021
Last Recorded By – Not Recorded
Last Recorded General Area – Not Recorded
Selected Images: Melbourne, Derbyshire – Tony Davison©
Image Gallery
Temporal Distribution Chart
Adults: (between 1963 - 2021) | Immatures: (between 1980 - 1980)
(click legend below to show/hide datasets)
Distribution Map for Orthosia populeti
Found 28 records
↳ from 2026+
↳ 1 from 2020 - 2025
↳ 27 from Before 2020
↳ from 2026+
↳ 1 from 2020 - 2025
↳ 27 from Before 2020
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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 – Orthosia populeti
⚠️ 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:
Orthosia populeti
( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )
Monthly Counts By Year:
Orthosia populeti
( data is based on 'Adult' stage records only )
First/Last Recorded Dates: Orthosia populeti
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: Orthosia populeti
( All data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )
Annual Growth Rate (AGR): Orthosia populeti
AGR: -1.59% | Total % Change: -25%
Hectad (10kmx10km) Coverage: Orthosia populeti
( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )
Flight Periods – Indicative –vs– Recorded Data
Orthosia populeti
Orthosia populeti
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 - Orthosia populeti – 28 records available
Listed by Year - descending - scroll across to see all table columns
| Site Name | Tetrad | Date | Count | Stage | Recorder | Source | RecordKey |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Midway, Derbys. | SK32A | 29/03/2021 | 1 | adult | Williams, Michael | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC38493889 |
| Findern, Derbyshire, DEAZ | SK33A | 22/03/2019 | 1 | adult | Brian and Jean Hallam | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC35160941 |
| Hardhurst Rd, Alvaston, Derby | SK33W | 30/04/2014 | 1 | Adult | I. Gardler | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001WP2A2 |
| Hardhurst Rd, Alvaston, Derby | SK33W | 31/03/2011 | 1 | Adult | I. Gardler | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001WPCXI |
| Hardhurst Rd, Alvaston, Derby | SK33W | 29/03/2011 | 3 | Adult | I. Gardler | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001WPCWV |
| Hardhurst Rd, Alvaston, Derby | SK33W | 28/03/2011 | 2 | Adult | I. Gardler | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001WQ4I6 |
| Hardhurst Rd, Alvaston, Derby | SK33W | 28/04/2010 | 1 | Adult | I. Gardler | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001OKRCY |
| Beresford Dale (Tower),Hartington | SK15J | 27/04/2007 | 1 | Adult | D.A. Clarke | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001OJH88 |
| Beresford Dale (Tower),Hartington | SK15J | 07/04/2007 | 2 | Adult | D.A. Clarke | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001OI9D6 |
| Brierley Hill,Unstone | SK37S | 13/03/2007 | 1 | Adult | D.A. Clarke | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001OJGW9 |
| Calke Park | SK32L | 12/03/2007 | 2 | adult | Finch, Graham Leonard | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC35105466 |
| Calke Park,Ticknall | SK32L | 12/03/2007 | 2 | Adult | G.L. Finch;K. Tailby;M.A. Finch | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001OJGVQ |
| Edgecote Drive,Newhall,Swadlincote | SK22V | 20/04/2006 | 1 | Adult | Topliss, Neil | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001OI72F |
| Edgecote Drive,Newhall,Swadlincote | SK22V | 01/04/2005 | 1 | Adult | Topliss, Neil | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001OJ8D8 |
| FOREMARK RESERVOIR | SK32H | 25/03/2005 | 1 | adult | Davison, Tony | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC33442925 |
| Foremark Resr, Ticknall | SK32H | 25/03/2005 | 1 | Adult | A. Davison;N. Topliss;W. Soar | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001OJ8C8 |
| Main Street, Kings Newton | SK32Y | 18/04/2003 | 2 | Adult | Soar, Will | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC34679555 |
| Main St,Kings Newton,Melbourne | SK32Y | 18/04/2003 | 2 | Adult | Soar, Will | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001OHOU4 |
| Main Street, Kings Newton | SK32Y | 07/04/2003 | 1 | Adult | Soar, Will | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC34679554 |
| Main St,Kings Newton,Melbourne | SK32Y | 07/04/2003 | 1 | Adult | Soar, Will | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001OJ31O |
| Main Street, Kings Newton | SK32Y | 04/04/2003 | 1 | Adult | Soar, Will | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC34679553 |
| Main St,Kings Newton,Melbourne | SK32Y | 04/04/2003 | 1 | Adult | VC57 Derbyshire Recorder | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001OJ30Y |
| The Field,Shipley,Ilkeston | SK44M | 11/04/1995 | 1 | Adult | T. Duro | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001OI26W |
| Skinner St, Creswell, Worksop | SK57H | 17/04/1988 | 1 | Adult | VC57 Derbyshire Recorder | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001OIE3D |
| Carvers Rocks NR, Hartshorne, Swadlincote (site not precise) | SK32G | 10/04/1981 | 2 | Adult | D.A. Young | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001OHHB1 |
| Crich Chase, Ambergate (site not precise) | SK35L | 30/05/1980 | 20 | Larvae | VC57 Derbyshire Recorder | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001OIM95 |
| Newbold Drive, Chesterfield | SK37R | 10/04/1964 | 1 | Adult | VC57 Derbyshire Recorder | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001OHVWI |
| Newbold Rd, Chesterfield | SK37R | 03/04/1963 | 1 | Adult | VC57 Derbyshire Recorder | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001OHVUQ |