49.259 BF1163  –  Tortricidae –  Olethreutinae – Zeiraphera ratzeburgiana – Spruce Bud Moth – (Saxesen, 1840) Adult Micro:  CAT 2 – Can be confused with other species –       PDF Icon – click for General Verification Guidelines  |   PDF Icon – click for Specific Verification Guidelines
Brown –  Significant Record / Very Rare / Vagrant    
Taxonomy:   Micro   >>  Tortricidae  >> Olethreutinae
Other Name/s: Spruce-bud Moth
ID Difficulty:  amber  – care required in the identification process, as confusion with similar species is likely – quality photographs required.
ID pointers: A variable and attractively marked moth. Black marbling over a tawny-brown forewing, with a well marked and triangular shaped dorsal blotch. Bright individuals can show brown, tawny, black, cream and white markings.
Distribution:  (First record: 29 June 2004 at Kings Newton )  –  (Last record: 4 July 2025 at Darwin Forest, Matlock )  –  A new record for the VC57 and Derbyshire; One to MV Light on 29th June 2004 at Kings Newton. – the 2nd record came from Ambergate 2/8/2012; 3rd & 4th record from Froggatt on 13th July & 30th July 2020; 5th record from High Lees Farm 28th July 2024 & 6th & 7th records from Darwin Forest 4th July 2025.
General Comment: None
Flight Period: July /  August –  Single generation July – August Moth Activity: Cathemeral   – active from dusk into the night Photographed: Yes –  Photographed By: Steve Thorpe, Dave Evans  © All Rights Reserved
*** Last updated on 2 October 2025 by RP ***
Wingspan: 12-15mm
Food Plant: Various coniferous trees
Last Recorded Year: 2025
First Recorded Year: 2024
Last Recorded By – Dave Evans
Last Recorded General Area – Darwin Forest, Matlock

Selected Images:  

High Lees Farm, Riber – Steve Thorpe© / 4th July 2025 – Darwin Forest – Dave Evans©



Distribution Map for Zeiraphera ratzeburgiana

Found 6 records
    ↳ from 2026+
    ↳ 4 from 2020 - 2025
    ↳ 2 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 – Zeiraphera ratzeburgiana

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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: Zeiraphera ratzeburgiana
( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )

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


First/Last Recorded Dates: Zeiraphera ratzeburgiana
Adult-only & Anything [Larvae, Pupae, Adult, Mines]

Shading shows moth presence between dates

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Recordings By Year: Zeiraphera ratzeburgiana
( All data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )
Annual Growth Rate (AGR): Zeiraphera ratzeburgiana
AGR: 3.36%   |   Total % Change: 100%

Hectad (10kmx10km) Coverage: Zeiraphera ratzeburgiana
( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )

Flight Periods – Indicative –vs– Recorded Data
Zeiraphera ratzeburgiana
( 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 - Zeiraphera ratzeburgiana – 6 records available

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

Site NameTetradDateCountStageSource
Darwin ForestSK26X04/07/20252adultvc57_irecords_extract
High Leas Farm, RiberSK35D28/07/20241adultvc57_irecords_extract
The Mays, Malthouse Lane, FroggattSK27N30/07/20202adultDanes_2019-2021
The Mays, Malthouse Lane, FroggattSK27N13/07/20201adultDanes_2019-2021
Bilberry Wood, AmbergateSK35L02/08/20121Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Main St,Kings Newton,MelbourneSK32Y29/06/20041Adultvc57_danes_bc_data

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