Moth of the Month (February 2026)
On 21st February 2026 a superb colour variant (aberration) was trapped by Christian Heintzen at Long Clough, Glossop. The moth was so distinctive and unusually marked, it prompted Christian to do some digging, to find out exactly what the variant was likely to be. After making a search on the National History portal and subsequent
Moth Trap – February 24th/25th 2026
I ran my 20W actinic moth trap overnight in my Melbourne garden. Results as follows – Acleris literana (NFG) 1; Common Quaker 9; March Moth 3; Clouded Drab 3; Satellite 1; Small Quaker 1; Oak Beauty 1. 19/7
A 2nd new species this year of Psychidae for VC57.
The larval cases of Dahlica triquetrella were discovered by Mark Radford on 8th and 10th February 2026, whilst he was searching local cemeteries and churchyards for this species and for Luffia lapidella. On 8th February larval cases were found at Eckington Cemetery and on 10th February more were discovered at Bolsover Churchyard. Winged males do
First Moth Trap for 2026 – 11th February 2026
My first moth trap for 2026 was on 11th February when I ran my 20W actinic in the garden from 17:30 – 22:30hrs – One Chestnut and one Common Quaker (possibly my earliest ever in the garden)
Moth of the Month (January 2026)
We start the year with one of the earliest species to emerge, the Spring Usher. Typically the males are on the wing, just as winter is ending, from January through to March. The females are wingless, looking more like a spider, or a strange looking beetle than a moth, and are more tricky to locate
A new species to kick start 2026
A new species of micro moth was discovered on 4th January 2026 by Will Soar. He recorded the larval case/s of Luffia lapidella at Willington. A species of “bagworm”, commonly known as the Ramshorn Bagworm, which is one of the most commonly recorded in England and Wales, so this came as somewhat of a surprise
Moth of the Month – (December 2025)
Bryan Barnacle recorded the third record for VC57 Derbyshire on 16th December 2025 at Froggatt of Carpatolechia decorella during daylight, as he watched it fly across his garden landing on a nearby window. After a number of tentative conversations on the ID of the moth, which does not show the usual markings of the species,
Moth of the Month (November 2025)
Martin Roome recorded the Sprawler at Smiths Gorse, Foremark, which is located in South Derbyshire, on 5th November 2025. The first record since 9th November 2021, when I was fortunate to see one that was trapped at Kings Newton by Will Soar. Due to the late flight period, on the wing during October –
NBN Award Winners – 2025
Yesterday, 20th November 2025, was an exciting day as Emily Milnes and myself travelled down to Bristol to attend the National Biodiversity Network Trust Conference and Awards Ceremony for 2025. Back in January 2025, Emily entered the Derbyshire Moth Verification and Recording Team into the NBN Awards Group Category for Wildlife Recording. In September we
Leaf-mine Discovered after 50 years
The leaf mine of Ectoedemia intimella has been found by Christian Heintzen at Sett Valley Trail on 13th November 2025. This represents the first record in Derbyshire, of this leaf miner, since 1975. A full account of the species can be found on the species page 4.082 (BF25).
Moth Trap 2nd November 2025 – 17:45 – 23:00 hrs
I ran my 20w Actinic moth trap from my garden in Melbourne, Derbyshire on 2nd November for just over five hours and recorded a single Brick. A new species for the year so not a waste of time. A well worn individual.
Moth of the Month (October 2025)
Clive Ashton ran his last moth trap for October from his Cromford garden on the 31st, and recorded a very special moth for Derbyshire. There are two records of The Streak since 2019. One from Hathersage in 2022 and one from Darley Moor in 2023. Clive’s record is the only one so far this year.
Leaf-mine Recording
There are huge gaps in the knowledge of leaf-mines in Derbyshire and there are plenty of opportunities to discover new locations and new leaf-mines for the vice-county. I’m gradually gaining more of an interest in this fascinating side of moths. There is also a new language to learn, such as frass, tenanted and un-tenanted, epidermal
Moth Trap – 17th October 2025
I ran my 20w Actinic moth trap in my Melbourne garden overnight on 17th October 2025. Results are as follows in no particular order – Red-line Quaker (1); Black Rustic (5), Turnip Moth (3), Shuttle-shaped Dart (2), Beaded Chestnut (1), Large Yellow Underwing (1), Epiphyas postvittana (Light-brown Apple Moth) (3), Carcina Quercana (1). 17/8





















