The Forester       Six-spot Burnet
54.003 BF0164  –  Zygaenidae –  Procridinae – Adscita geryon – Cistus Forester –  (Hübner, 1813) Adult Macro:  CAT 2 – Can be confused with other species – Can be confused with other species       PDF Icon – click for Adult Macro Verification Guidelines
Green –  Rare / Uncommon / Scarce        day-flying – Day-flying
Taxonomy:   Macro   >>  Zygaenidae  >> Procridinae
ID Difficulty:  amber  – care required in the identification process, as confusion with similar species is likely – quality photographs required.
Confusion Species:  The Forester
ID pointers: There are two species of British Forester moth found in Derbyshire. The Cistus Forester is the smaller of the two therefore more easy to identify. The upper wing is a bright emerald green. The food plant is critical when identifying this species. 
Distribution:  (Last record: 18 May 2025 at Harboro Rocks )  –  A nationally scarce species but is local too fairly common on breeding areas in the Limestone Dales of Derbyshire, where the food plant, Rock Rose exists. It is rare away from these areas, especially  from the extreme north and northwest of the county. Normally recorded in ones or twos, never in numbers. 
Flight Period: June /  July /  –  On the wing June – July. One generation – active by day feeding on Thyme, Kidney Vetch and Common Bird’s-foot Trefoil Photographed: Yes –  Photographed By: Bryan Barnacle, Clive Ashton  © All Rights Reserved
*** Last updated on 2 October 2025 by RP ***
Wingspan: 20-25mm
 Food Plant: Common Rock-rose (Helianthemum nummularium).
Last Recorded Year: 2025
Last Recorded By – Clive Ashton
Last Recorded General Area – Harboro Rocks
Selected Images:  Image provided by Bryan Barnacle © / Harboro Rocks (May 2025) – Clive Ashton©

Cistus Forester - Bryan Barnacle
Cistus Forester – Bryan Barnacle
Cistus Forester on food plant - 18th May 2025 - Harboro Rocks - Clive Ashton
Cistus Forester on food plant – 18th May 2025 – Harboro Rocks – Clive Ashton
Cistus Forester - Bryan Barnacle
Cistus Forester on food plant - 18th May 2025 - Harboro Rocks - Clive Ashton


Image Gallery

Cistus Forester on food plant - 18th May 2025 - Harboro Rocks - Clive Ashton Cistus Forester - Froggatt - Bryan Barnacle©

Distribution Map for Adscita geryon

Found 192 records
    ↳ 15 from After 2025
    ↳ 46 from 2020 - 2024
    ↳ 131 from Before 2020
Flying
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

If the Map Layers function fails, just refresh the page and it should be OK after. Use the +- zoom on the top left, or on a tablet, use two fingers to zoom. Remember, the last layer you ticked is the one which displays the popup information - they sit on top of each other - de-select then re-select, to see the popup values.

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 – Adscita geryon

⚠️ 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.

Visit NBN Site


Monthly Records By Year: Adscita geryon
( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )

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


First/Last Recorded Dates: Adscita geryon
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: Adscita geryon
( All data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )
Annual Growth Rate (AGR): Adscita geryon
AGR: 9.53%   |   Total % Change: 873.3%


CUSUM Analysis: Adscita geryon
About this chart: CUSUM (Cumulative Sum) charts track long-term trends in moth populations [ filtered by 'Adult' and 'Mine' life stages ] by showing whether each year’s counts are above or below the historical average. Even small shifts build up over time, making trends of growth, stability, or decline easier to see. CUSUM highlights trend-consistency — asking: “Across the years, have moth counts mostly stayed above or below average?”
The data sample has 4 gap year/s here (zero records) between 2000 and 2025. The moth may have been present in those gap years, but no data was available. Too many year-gaps may exaggerate or skew the chart.

Counts for the current year (2025) are pro-rated based on data available up to month 8 (August) to provide a full-year equivalent.

ⓘ Purple line rises = years better than average; falls = years worse than average.
Peak (best year) Trough (worst year) Growth periods Decline periods
Population peaked around 2014, reaching above average levels. The lowest population point occurred near 2007, showing a significant decline.

What the Y-axis "Cumulative Deviation" means: Cumulative Deviation shows the running total of how each year’s moth population count differs from the long-term average. i

Hectad (10kmx10km) Coverage: Adscita geryon
( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )

Flight Periods – Indicative –vs– Recorded Data
Adscita geryon
( 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 2020-2025.

Records Behind the Map and Charts - Adscita geryon – 192 records available

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

Site NameTetradDateCountStageSource
Deep Dale Nature ReserveSK17Q08/06/20253adultvc57_irecords_extract
Deep Dale NR, Sheldon - SSK16U10/06/20251Adultvc57_irecords_extract
Deep Dale NR, Sheldon - SSK17Q10/06/20251Adultvc57_irecords_extract
CressbrookSK17S12/06/20251Adultvc57_irecords_extract
Cressbrook Dale, DerbyshireSK17S17/06/20251adultvc57_irecords_extract
Lonsgtone EdgeSK27B07/05/20255adultvc57_irecords_extract
Grin LowSK07K13/05/20251Adultvc57_irecords_extract
Lathkill DaleSK16X15/05/20253adultvc57_irecords_extract
Lathkill DaleSK16S15/05/20251adultvc57_irecords_extract
Harboro RocksSK25M18/05/20251adultvc57_irecords_extract
Deep DaleSK17Q19/05/202540adultvc57_irecords_extract
Middleton MoorSK25S25/05/20255adultvc57_irecords_extract
Deepdale, Plantlife Reserve, DerbyshireSK16U16/05/202530adultvc57_irecords_extract
Cunningdale, BuxtonSK07R18/05/20253adultvc57_irecords_extract
Deep Dale, Plantlife ReserveSK17G16/05/202550adultvc57_irecords_extract
Deep Dale, TaddingtonSK17Q07/06/20241Adultvc57_irecords_extract
Beltonville Farm, BuxtonSK17L17/06/20241Adultvc57_irecords_extract
Middleton MoorSK25S03/06/20232adultvc57_irecords_extract
hopton quarrySK25T04/06/20233adultvc57_irecords_extract
Deep Dale NR, Sheldon - SSK17Q11/06/20231Adultvc57_irecords_extract
Deep Dale NR, Sheldon - SSK17Q11/06/20232Adultvc57_irecords_extract
Hopton Quarry edgeSK25S10/06/202310adultvc57_irecords_extract
Cressbrook DaleSK17S10/06/20231Adultvc57_irecords_extract
Cressbrook Dale top endSK17S10/06/20231Adultvc57_irecords_extract
Holloway, MatlockSK35I17/06/20231adultvc57_irecords_extract
Monk's DaleSK17H21/05/20231adultvc57_irecords_extract
Longstone EdgeSK27B27/05/20233adultvc57_irecords_extract
Calton Pastures, BakewellSK26J30/05/20231Adultvc57_irecords_extract
Wardlow Hay CopSK17R29/05/20231Adultvc57_irecords_extract
Monk's DaleSK17H22/05/20231adultvc57_irecords_extract
Hopton QuarrySK25S04/06/20221adultvc57_irecords_extract
Moseley Bank, Chee Dale, DerbysSK17B07/06/20229adultvc57_irecords_extract
Tansley Dale, DerbysSK17S16/06/20221adultvc57_irecords_extract
Tansley Dale, DerbyshireSK17S16/06/20221adultvc57_irecords_extract
Tansley Dale, DerbyshireSK17S16/06/20221adultvc57_irecords_extract
Chee DaleSK17B10/06/20222adultvc57_irecords_extract
Deep DaleSK17Q25/05/20221Adultvc57_irecords_extract
Derbyshire Dales National Nature ReserveSK17S19/06/20211Adultvc57_irecords_extract
Monks DaleSK17H15/06/20211not recordedvc57_irecords_extract
Cressbrook Dale, DerbyshireSK17S22/06/202120adultvc57_irecords_extract
Cressbrook daleSK17S24/06/20211adultvc57_irecords_extract
Deep Dale, SheldonSK16U12/06/20211Adultvc57_irecords_extract
Hopton Quarry edgeSK25S15/06/202110adultvc57_irecords_extract
Grin LowSK07K13/06/20216adultvc57_irecords_extract
Ferneydale (Grazed)SK07Q13/06/20217adultvc57_irecords_extract
Hopton Quarry edgeSK25S10/01/20211larvavc57_irecords_extract
Derbyshire, UKSK07L13/06/20201Adultvc57_irecords_extract
LittonSK17S21/06/20201Adultvc57_irecords_extract
Monks Dale NNRSK17G19/05/202020adultvc57_irecords_extract
Monk's DaleSK17G19/05/20201Adultvc57_irecords_extract
Monk's DaleSK17G19/05/20201Adultvc57_irecords_extract
Monk's DaleSK17H20/05/20202adultvc57_irecords_extract
CressbrookSK17R22/05/20201adultvc57_irecords_extract
BuxtonSK07K25/05/20201adultvc57_irecords_extract
Chee DaleSK17B28/05/20207adultvc57_irecords_extract
BuxtonSK07K29/05/20201adultvc57_irecords_extract
Cunning DaleSK07R21/05/20201adultvc57_irecords_extract
Cunning DaleSK07W21/05/20201adultvc57_irecords_extract
FerneyDaleSK07Q20/05/20204adultvc57_irecords_extract
Grin LowSK07K25/05/20201Adultvc57_irecords_extract
Longstone Edge, Great LongstoneSK27B28/05/202080adultDanes_2019-2021
Deepdale, DerbyshireSK16U01/06/201920adultvc57_irecords_extract
Deepdale, SheldonSK16U18/06/20191Adultvc57_irecords_extract
Cressbrook DaleSK17S09/06/20192adultDanes_2019-2021
Longstone Edge, Great LongstoneSK17W15/05/20191adultDanes_2019-2021
Coombs DaleSK27H07/06/20181Adultvc57_irecords_extract
Bonsall LeysSK25T14/06/20171not recordedvc57_irecords_extract
Cressbrook DaleSK17S30/05/20161Adultvc57_irecords_extract
Longstone Edge area, Great LongstoneSK27B20/06/201432Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Little Longstone, DerbyshireSK17R29/06/20131not recordedvc57_irecords_extract
Lathkill DaleSK16S21/06/20131not recordedvc57_irecords_extract
Deep Dale,TaddingtonSK17Q01/06/20121Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Longstone Edge,Great LongstoneSK17W18/06/20122Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Longstone Edge, Great LongstoneSK17W18/06/20122Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Coombs Dale,Stoney MiddletonSK27H25/05/20121Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Longstone Edge,Great LongstoneSK17W30/05/20126Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Longstone Edge, Great LongstoneSK17W30/05/20126Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Coombs Dale,Stoney MiddletonSK27H25/05/20121Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Longstone Edge,Great LongstoneSK17W10/06/20112Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Longstone Edge,Great LongstoneSK27B03/06/20111Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Biggin Dale, nr HartingtonSK15P04/06/201131Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Longstone Edge,Great LongstoneSK17W09/06/20111Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Longstone Edge, Great LongstoneSK17W09/06/20112Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Longstone Edge, Great LongstoneSK17W10/06/20112Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Ashford-in-the-WaterSK16Z07/05/20111adultvc57_irecords_extract
Longstone Edge,Great LongstoneSK17W31/05/2011100Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Longstone Edge,Great LongstoneSK17W04/05/20111Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Biggin Dale, nr HartingtonSK15P12/06/201012Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Longstone Edge,Great LongstoneSK27B20/06/201030Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Longstone Edge,Great LongstoneSK27B12/06/2010100Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Longstone EdgeSK17W28/05/20101Adultvc57_irecords_extract
Longstone EdgeSK27B28/05/20101Adultvc57_irecords_extract
Longstone EdgeSK27B28/05/20101Adultvc57_irecords_extract
Longstone Edge,Great LongstoneSK17W28/05/201027Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Longstone Edge,Great LongstoneSK27B28/05/20102Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Longstone Edge,Great LongstoneSK27B28/05/20103Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Longstone Edge,BaslowSK27B12/06/2009100Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Longstone Edge,BaslowSK27B09/06/2009100Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Pin Dale,CastletonSK18L02/06/20088Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Longstone Edge,Great Longstone (site not precise)SK27B15/06/200810Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Longstone Edge,Great Longstone (site not precise)SK27B31/05/2008100Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Longstone EdgeSK27B09/05/20071Adultvc57_irecords_extract
Longstone Edge (beech plantation), Great LongstoneSK27B09/05/20071Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Longstone EdgeSK27B08/06/20061Adultvc57_irecords_extract
Coombs Dale, Stoney Middleton (site not precise)SK27H20/06/20061Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Longstone Edge,Great LongstoneSK27B08/06/2006103Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Deep Dale,TaddingtonSK16U23/06/200610Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Deep Dale (Plantlife NR), TaddingtonSK17Q25/06/200650Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Deep Dale (Plantlife NR), TaddingtonSK17Q25/06/200610Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Cressbrook Dale NNR, WardlowSK17S25/06/20062Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Lathkill DaleSK16S25/06/20061Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Lathkill DaleSK16S25/06/20061Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Woo DaleSK07W12/07/20051Adultvc57_irecords_extract
Woo Dale, BuxtonSK07W12/07/20051Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Cressbrook Dale top endSK17S27/06/20051Adultvc57_irecords_extract
Cressbrook Dale (top end), WardlowSK17S27/06/20051Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Cunning DaleSK07W26/06/20031Adultvc57_irecords_extract
Cunning Dale, BuxtonSK07W26/06/20031Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Cunning DaleSK07W03/07/20021Adultvc57_irecords_extract
Cunning Dale, BuxtonSK07W03/07/20023Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Longstone Edge,Great LongstoneSK27B20/06/20014Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Longstone Edge,Great LongstoneSK27B21/06/200120Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Tideslow RakeSK17T16/06/20001Adultvc57_irecords_extract
Chee Dale NR, BuxtonSK17G01/06/20001Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Tideslow Rake, Great HucklowSK17T16/06/20001Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Cressbrook Dale, WardlowSK17R18/06/19991Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Wye DaleSK17B08/06/19971Adultvc57_irecords_extract
Churn HoleSK17B08/06/19971Adultvc57_irecords_extract
MILLERS DALESK17L09/06/19971Adultvc57_irecords_extract
Chee Dale, TideswellSK17G02/06/19976Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Wye Dale, nr BuxtonSK17B08/06/19973Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Churn Hole, nr BuxtonSK17B08/06/19971Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Millers Dale (west of Litton Mill)SK17L09/06/19971Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Wye Dale, nr BuxtonSK17B08/06/19973Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Millers Dale (west of Litton Mill)SK17L09/06/19971Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Cressbrook MillSK17R07/06/19951Adultvc57_irecords_extract
Cressbrook MillSK17R21/06/19951Adultvc57_irecords_extract
Cressbrook MillSK17R26/06/19951Adultvc57_irecords_extract
Botanical Acre CressbrookSK17S18/06/19951Adultvc57_irecords_extract
Litton Frith Wood & MeadowSK17R18/06/19951Adultvc57_irecords_extract
Coombs Dale, Calver, DerbysSK27M24/06/19953Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Cressbrook Mill, Cressbrook, TideswellSK17R21/06/19951Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Cressbrook Mill, Cressbrook, TideswellSK17R07/06/19957Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Cressbrook Dale (Botanical Acre), Cressbrook, TideswellSK17S18/06/199532Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Litton Frith Wood & Meadow, Cressbrook Dale, TideswellSK17R18/06/19951Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Cressbrook Mill, Cressbrook, TideswellSK17R26/06/19951Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Cressbrook Dale, Wardlow, TideswellSK17S11/06/19944Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Cressbrook Dale, Wardlow, TideswellSK17S11/06/19944Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Back Dale, ChelmortonSK07V06/06/19934Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Back Dale, ChelmortonSK07V06/06/19938Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Deep Dale, ChelmortonSK07V06/06/19931Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Derbyshire Bridge, BuxtonSK07A09/06/19931Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Deep Dale, ChelmortonSK07V09/06/19932Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Cunning Dale, BuxtonSK07R13/06/19933Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Cunning Dale, Buxton (site not precise)SK07W13/06/19933Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Cunning Dale, BuxtonSK07R24/06/19931Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Deep Dale, ChelmortonSK07V25/06/19931Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Deep Dale, ChelmortonSK07V25/06/19937Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Back Dale, ChelmortonSK07V11/06/19921Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Back Dale, ChelmortonSK07V11/06/19923Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Coombs Dale,Stoney MiddletonSK27H01/01/19921Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Lathkill Dale,BakewellSK16S12/07/19721Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Dovedale (just south of Milldale)SK15M22/06/19691Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Lathkill Dale (site not precise), YoulgreaveSK26D22/06/19661Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Lathkill Dale (site not precise), BakewellSK16S06/06/19611Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Dovedale (site not precise)SK15K01/06/19601Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Calver Peak, Calver (site not precise)SK27M15/06/19581Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Lathkill Dale (site not precise)SK16S16/06/19571Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Lathkill Dale (site not precise)SK16S03/06/19561Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Millers Dale, Tideswell (site not precise)SK17M23/06/19561Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Lathkill Dale (site not precise)SK16S01/01/19541Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Longstone Edge,Great Longstone (site not precise)SK27B01/01/19541Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Monsal Dale, Little Longstone (site not precise)SK17V14/06/19511Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Longstone Edge,Great Longstone (site not precise)SK27B01/01/19421Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Matlock (site not precise)SK35H05/06/19381Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Dovedale (site not precise)SK15K01/06/19351Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Via Gellia, Cromford (site not precise)SK25Y01/06/19351Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Via Gellia, Cromford (site not precise)SK25Y06/06/19221Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Via Gellia, Cromford (site not precise)SK25Y14/06/19221Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Via Gellia, Cromford (site not precise)SK25Y06/06/19221Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Lathkill Dale (site not precise)SK16S15/06/19181Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Via Gellia, Cromford (site not precise)SK25Y09/06/19171Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Via Gellia, Cromford (site not precise)SK25Y05/06/19111Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Dovedale (site not precise)SK15K01/01/19101Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Dovedale (site not precise)SK15K04/06/19011Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Little Eaton, Derby (site not precise)SK34Q01/01/19001Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Middleton Dale, Youlegreave (site not precise)SK27D01/01/18951Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Lathkill Dale (site not precise)SK16S12/06/18941Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Monsal Dale, Little Longstone (site not precise)SK17V08/06/18921Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Lathkill Dale (site not precise)SK16S17/06/18851Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Monsal Dale, Little Longstone (site not precise)SK17V01/01/18001Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Monsal Dale, Little Longstone (site not precise)SK17V01/01/18001Adultvc57_danes_bc_data

The Forester       Six-spot Burnet

Copyright Tony Davison © 2025 www.derbyshiremoths.org

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