73.142 BF2379  –  Noctuidae –  Xyleninae – Coenobia rufa – Small Rufous – (Haworth, 1809) Adult Macro:  CAT 2 – Can be confused with other species – Good photographs maybe required – Can be confused with other species       PDF Icon – click for Adult Macro Verification Guidelines

Green –  Rare / Uncommon / Scarce   
Taxonomy:   Macro   >>  Noctuidae  >> Xyleninae
ID Difficulty:  amber  – care required in the identification process, as confusion with similar species is likely – quality photographs required.
Confusion Species:  Small Wainscot; Small Dotted Buff
ID pointers: A small short and rounded-winged moth. The forewing has a narrow, central defused streak running through an otherwise pinkish, reddish-brown straw coloured ground colour. Lightly dusted with light or dark grey. There are further streaks branching off the main streak and the fringes are also dark greyish. The wings have a silky appearance. Hind wing is a soft smoky grey.
Distribution:  (First record: 1866 )  –  (Last record: 3 August 2024 at Stonebroom )  –  From reports during 2024, the moth seems to be well established in the south of the county. Prior to this specimen that I trapped on July 28th 2004 at Toyota Site, Derby, there were only two previous records, 1866 & 1885. It was reported again in 2006 and a further three records in 2007. It seems to be a classic “Dusking” moth, flying an hour or so before nightfall during July and August. Most recent records come from the south of the county, with scattered single reports from areas further north. 
General Comment: None
Flight Period: July /  August –  On the wing July – August. Moth Activity: Nocturnal   – occasionally attracted to light Photographed: Yes –  Photographed By: Tony Davison  © All Rights Reserved
*** Last updated on 13 January 2026 by TD ***
Wingspan: 22-25mm
Forewing: 10-12mm
Food Plant: Rush (Juncus sp.).
Last Recorded Year: July 2024
First Recorded Year: 1866
Last Recorded By – Jonathan Bradley
Last Recorded General Area – Stonebroom

Selected Images:  Toyota Site, Derbyshire – Tony Davison©



Distribution Map for Coenobia rufa

Found 73 records
    ↳ from 2026+
    ↳ 44 from 2020 - 2025
    ↳ 29 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 – Coenobia rufa

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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: Coenobia rufa
( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )

Monthly Counts By Year: Coenobia rufa
( data is based on 'Adult' stage records only. )


First/Last Recorded Dates: Coenobia rufa
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: Coenobia rufa
( All data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )
Annual Growth Rate (AGR): Coenobia rufa
AGR: 1.01%   |   Total % Change: 23.5%

Hectad (10kmx10km) Coverage: Coenobia rufa
( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )

Flight Periods – Indicative –vs– Recorded Data
Coenobia rufa
( 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 - Coenobia rufa – 73 records available

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

Site NameTetradDateCountStageSource
Shirland - Hallfieldgate LaneSK35Z15/08/20251adultvc57_irecords_extract
BelperSK34N11/08/20252adultvc57_irecords_extract
Belper, DerbyshireSK34N03/08/20251adultvc57_irecords_extract
BelperSK34N31/07/20251adultvc57_irecords_extract
Findern, DerbyshireSK33A30/07/20251adultvc57_irecords_extract
upper cromford gardenSK25Y25/07/20251adultvc57_irecords_extract
Chaddesden, DerbySK33T22/07/20251adultvc57_irecords_extract
Aston-on-Trent, DerbyshireSK43A19/07/20251adultvc57_irecords_extract
Wingerworth, DerbyshireSK36Y18/07/20252adultvc57_irecords_extract
Allestree, DerbySK33P18/07/20251adultvc57_irecords_extract
BelperSK34U18/07/20252adultvc57_irecords_extract
Chaddesden, DerbySK33T18/07/20251adultvc57_irecords_extract
Belper, DerbyshireSK34N18/07/20252adultvc57_irecords_extract
Findern, DerbyshireSK33A17/07/20251adultvc57_irecords_extract
Shirland - Hallfieldgate LaneSK35Z17/07/20251adultvc57_irecords_extract
BelperSK34N16/07/20251adultvc57_irecords_extract
BelperSK34U13/07/20251adultvc57_irecords_extract
Stonebroom.SK45E03/08/20241adultvc57_irecords_extract
Woodland AveSK43R02/08/20241adultvc57_irecords_extract
StonebroomSK45E01/08/20241adultvc57_irecords_extract
Sandiacre GardenSK43T01/08/20242adultvc57_irecords_extract
BelperSK34N30/07/20241adultvc57_irecords_extract
SandiacreSK43S30/07/20243adultvc57_irecords_extract
Shirland - Hallfieldgate LaneSK35Z30/07/20241Adultvc57_irecords_extract
Sandiacre GardenSK43T30/07/20245adultvc57_irecords_extract
Staveley DerbyshireSK47H29/07/20241adultvc57_irecords_extract
BelperSK34N22/07/20241adultvc57_irecords_extract
BelperSK34U10/08/20231adultvc57_irecords_extract
Findern GardenSK33A21/07/20231Adultvc57_irecords_extract
Findern, Derbyshire, DEAZSK33A08/08/20221adultvc57_irecords_extract
Findern, Derbyshire, DEAZSK33A03/08/20221adultvc57_irecords_extract
Findern, Derbyshire, DEAZSK33A17/07/20221adultvc57_irecords_extract
Station Road, Darley DaleSK26R17/07/20221adultvc57_irecords_extract
Woodland AveSK43R16/07/20222Adultvc57_irecords_extract
Woodland AveSK43R20/08/20212adultvc57_irecords_extract
Woodland AveSK43R20/08/20211adultvc57_irecords_extract
Woodland AveSK43R13/08/20211adultvc57_irecords_extract
Findern, Derbyshire, DEAZSK33A26/07/20211adultvc57_irecords_extract
BelperSK34N15/08/20201adultvc57_irecords_extract
Findern, Derbyshire, DEAZSK33A11/08/20201adultvc57_irecords_extract
Main Street, Kings NewtonSK32Y07/08/20202Adultvc57_irecords_extract
Findern, Derbyshire, DEAZSK33A07/08/20202adultvc57_irecords_extract
Woodland AveSK43R06/08/20201adultvc57_irecords_extract
Woodland AveSK43R29/07/20201adultvc57_irecords_extract
Long Eaton - Marlborough RoadSK43X17/08/20181Adultvc57_irecords_extract
Long Eaton - Marlborough RoadSK43X03/08/20181Adultvc57_irecords_extract
Pleasley Pit CP, PleasleySK46X24/07/20181Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Waingroves WoodsSK44E18/07/20181adultvc57_irecords_extract
Hillside, Findern, DerbySK33A19/08/20161Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Waingroves Wood Moth and Bat EventSK44E06/08/20161adultvc57_irecords_extract
Midway Rd,Midway,SwadlincoteSK32A25/07/20142Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
The Hollies,Holly St,Stapenhill,Burton on TrentSK22K16/07/20131Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
The Hollies,Holly St,Stapenhill,Burton on TrentSK22K16/07/20131Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Duffield Rd, Allestree, DerbySK34K27/07/20121Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Duffield Rd, Allestree, DerbySK34K27/07/20121Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
The Hollies,Station Rd,Darley DaleSK26R12/07/20121Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Drakelow NR (Minton's Lagoon), Burton on TrentSK22F24/07/20101Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Drakelow NR (Minton's Lagoon), Burton on TrentSK22F24/07/20101Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Lancaster Ave,SandiacreSK43S25/07/20091Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
The Hollies,Station Rd,Darley DaleSK26R21/07/20081Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Calke Park Ticknall Lime YardsSK32R03/08/20072adultvc57_irecords_extract
Ticknall Limeyards,TicknallSK32R03/08/20072Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
The Hollies,Station Rd,Darley DaleSK26R22/07/20071Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
The Hollies,Station Rd,Darley DaleSK26R18/07/20071Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
The Hollies,Station Rd,Darley DaleSK26R11/07/20071Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
The Hollies,Station Rd,Darley DaleSK26R10/07/20061Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Toyota Site, BurnastonSK23V28/07/20041Adultvc57_irecords_extract
Burnaston (Toyota Plant NR), DerbySK23V28/07/20041Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Little Eaton, Derby (site not precise)SK34Q01/01/18851Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Little Eaton, Derby (site not precise)SK34Q01/01/18851Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Little Eaton, Derby (site not precise)SK34Q01/01/18851Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Repton, Swadlincote (site not precise)SK32B01/01/18661Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Repton, Swadlincote (site not precise)SK32B01/01/18661Adultvc57_danes_bc_data

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