Bryotropha senectella - 10th July 2025 - Buxton - Steve Orridge
35.046 BF782  – Grizzled Moss-moth  – Bryotropha senectella  – (Zeller, 1839)
Adult Micro:  CAT 2 – Can be confused with other species –      
PDF Icon – click for General Verification Guidelines  |   PDF Icon – click for Specific Verification Guidelines
Black – Uncertain/Unknown – Insufficient Data   
Taxonomy:   Micro   >>  Gelechiidae  >> Anomologinae
** Identification write up and photograph required **
Other Name/s: Dull Red Neb
ID Difficulty:  amber  – care required in the identification process, as confusion with similar species is likely – quality photographs required.
Confusion Species:  Bryotropha affinis (Dark Moss-moth); Bryotropha similis (Obscure Moss-moth)
Distribution:  (Last record: 10 July 2025 at Buxton )  –  Uncertain due to insufficient data – 2 records prior to 2010 – (iRecord) 5 records – all from same recorder 2011,2013,2020 (Ripley); 2021, 23/7/2022 (Breaston) – all plausible records; Confirmed record from Buxton 10/6/2025 (photographed)
General Comment: None
Flight Period: June /  July /  August /  September –  June – September mainly flying at night Moth Activity: Nocturnal   – and is attracted to light Photographed: Yes –  Photographed By: Steve Orridge  © All Rights Reserved
*** Last updated on 2 October 2025 by RP ***
Wingspan: 9-13mm
Food Plant: Mosses
Last Recorded Year: 2025
Last Recorded By – Steve Orridge
Last Recorded General Area – Buxton

Selected Images:  

Buxton (2025) Steve Orridge©



Temporal Distribution Chart
Adults: (between 2011 - 2025)
(click legend below to show/hide datasets)

Distribution Map for Bryotropha senectella

Found 10 records
    ↳ from 2026+
    ↳ 7 from 2020 - 2025
    ↳ 3 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 – Bryotropha senectella

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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: Bryotropha senectella
( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )

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

First/Last Recorded Dates: Bryotropha senectella
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: Bryotropha senectella
( All data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )
Annual Growth Rate (AGR): Bryotropha senectella
AGR: 1.61%   |   Total % Change: 25%

Hectad (10kmx10km) Coverage: Bryotropha senectella
( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )

Flight Periods – Indicative –vs– Recorded Data
Bryotropha senectella

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 - Bryotropha senectella – 10 records available

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

Site NameTetradDateCountStageRecorderSourceRecordKey
SheffieldSK38M26/07/20251adultTurner, Janvc57_irecords_extractiBRC44314179
sheffieldSK38K25/07/20252adultTurner, Janvc57_irecords_extractiBRC43914548
Ladycroft Ave, BuxtonSK07S10/07/20251adultOrridge, Stevevc57_irecords_extractiBRC43626734
HathersageSK28F19/06/20251adultKydd, Alanvc57_irecords_extractiBRC42979752
Woodland AveSK43R23/07/20221AdultThorpe, Stevevc57_irecords_extractiBRC27659562
Woodland AveSK43R18/07/20211adultThorpe, Stevevc57_irecords_extractiBRC33498790
Woodland AveSK43R29/07/20201adultThorpe, Stevevc57_irecords_extractiBRC33501726
Ladycroft AveSK07S06/08/20181adultOrridge, Stevevc57_irecords_extractiBRC49167468
Backgarden of Broadway, Ripley DELJSK45A02/08/20131adultThorpe, Stevevc57_irecords_extractiBRC33509264
Backgarden MarehaySK34Z01/08/20111adultThorpe, Stevevc57_irecords_extractiBRC33513724

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