Tinea pellionella - 21st April 2025 - Glossop - Christian Heintzen
12.027 BF240  – Case-bearing Clothes Moth  – Tinea pellionella  – Linnaeus, 1758
Adult Micro:  CAT 2 – Can be confused with other species –      
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Green –  Rare / Uncommon / Scarce   
Taxonomy:   Micro   >>  Tineidae  >> Tineinae
Other Name/s: Carpet Moth
ID Difficulty:  amber  – care required in the identification process, as confusion with similar species is likely – quality photographs required.
Confusion Species:  Tinea dubiella (Speckled Clothes Moth)
ID pointers: A tiny moth overall pale greyish brown forewing, containing two or three darker brown spots.
Distribution:  (Last record: 21 April 2025 at Glossop )  –  Widely distributed across Britain, yet only four records reported, 2021,2016 & 2004, 2025
General Comment: None
Flight Period: June /  July /  August /  September /  October –  Generally during May and October but as they can live in out buildings can be seen outside this period. Moth Activity: Cathemeral   – is often seen during the day Photographed: Yes –  Photographed By: Christian Heintzen  © All Rights Reserved
*** Last updated on 31 January 2026 by TD ***
Wingspan: 9-16mm
Food Plant: Wool, fur, birds nests, carpets – the larvae can be destructive to woollen carpets
Last Recorded Year: 2025
Last Recorded By – Christian Heintzen
Last Recorded General Area – Glossop

Selected Images:  

Glossop – 21st April 2025 – Christian Heintzen©



Temporal Distribution Chart
Adults: (between 2004 - 2026)
(click legend below to show/hide datasets)

Distribution Map for Tinea pellionella

Found 10 records
    ↳ 1 from 2026+
    ↳ 3 from 2020 - 2025
    ↳ 6 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 – Tinea pellionella

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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: Tinea pellionella
( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )

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

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

Hectad (10kmx10km) Coverage: Tinea pellionella
( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )

Flight Periods – Indicative –vs– Recorded Data
Tinea pellionella

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 - Tinea pellionella – 10 records available

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

Site NameTetradDateCountStageRecorderSourceRecordKey
Ingleby Avenue, DerbySK33L20/01/20261adultShervill, Andrewvc57_irecords_extractiBRC48728934
LittleoverSK33G11/07/20251adultWatson, Adrianvc57_irecords_extractiBRC43603259
White Knowle Road, BuxtonSK07R30/05/20251adultMortin, Jonvc57_irecords_extractiBRC41942586
BelperSK34U30/05/20251adultEvans, Davevc57_irecords_extractiBRC41953117
Haig St, Crewton, DerbySK33R05/06/20121AdultThorpe, Stevevc57_danes_bc_dataLC000334001CP7RS
Fernhill Rd, MellorSJ98U15/07/20092AdultVC57 Derbyshire Recordervc57_danes_bc_dataLC000334001COWU0
Westfield Rd, SwadlincoteSK22V27/08/20051AdultTopliss, Neilvc57_danes_bc_dataLC000334001COVWW
Westfield Rd, SwadlincoteSK22V03/08/20051AdultTopliss, Neilvc57_danes_bc_dataLC000334001CP2U8
Main Street, Kings NewtonSK32Y30/07/20041AdultSoar, Willvc57_irecords_extractiBRC34680373
Main St,Kings Newton,MelbourneSK32Y30/07/20041AdultSoar, Willvc57_danes_bc_dataLC000334001CP28C

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