A little more difficult to choose this months Moth of the Month than in August, but I’ve gone for the Scarce Bordered Straw. A rare immigrant species to our recording area, but this year there have been more reports than in previous years. It is more often encountered as an annual visitor along the south […]
The leaf mine of Phyllocnistis xenia (Kent Maze-miner) has been discovered by Marion Bryce on the Erewash Canal on 17th September 2025. This is a first record for the VC57 Derbyshire of this species that was first discovered in Britain during 1974 from East Kent. The moth has been expanding its range progressively northwards. The
I ran my 20w actinic moth trap in my Melbourne garden overnight on 30th September 2025. Warm overcast with early morning light drizzle. – Results were as follows and in no particular order – Large Yellow Underwing(8); Lesser Yellow Underwing (4); Box Tree Moth (7); Light Emerald (1); Swallow-tailed Moth (1); Shuttle-shaped Dart (2); Double-striped
Finalists of the NBN Group Award 2025 During January 2025, the National Biodiversity Network Trust opened their 2025 Awards for Wildlife Recording. The Joint Derbyshire Moths Verification and Recording Team decided to put forward our application for the Group Award section. Out of a total of 45 nominations, 28 individuals and organisations were shortlisted. On
Another difficult choice for moth of the month for August. I’ve chosen Scrobipalpa ocellatella (Beet Moth). This tiny little Gelechiid has arrived in Derbyshire in very good numbers during August, most probably migrant wanderers from what has likely been a large influx into Britain this summer, rather than population expansion. There are two generations, with
Mid August saw a number of rare migrants recorded in Derbyshire. An influx of Scrobipalpa oceelata (Beet Moth) during the month, the 3rd and 4th records of Ni Moth, one Allestree 15th (Stephen Plant) and one 20th Cromford (Clive Ashton). A Dark Sword-grass 20th Belper (Dave Evans), Bordered Straw 18th Belper (Dave Newcombe), Palpita Vitrealis
I ran my 20w actinic moth trap in my Melbourne garden overnight on 19th August 2025. Overcast with very light drizzle. – Results were as follows and in no particular order – Setaceous Hebrew Character (18), Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing (4), Lesser Yellow Underwing (4), Brimstone Moth (2), Willow Beauty (5), Common Wainscot (8), Box
Sam Goddard discovered the Leaf Mines of Phyllonorycter companella (Poplar Leaf-miner) on White Polar at Alvaston Park, Derby on 18th August 2025. This find represents a first record of this species for VC57 Derbyshire of this Nationally Scarce A species.
Nikki Mahadevan recorded a new micro moth for the VC57 Derbyshire recording area overnight on 13th August 2025. An adult Evergestis extimalis (Marbled Yellow Pearl) was attracted to her garden light trap at Shirland. This is a species that seems to be confined to certain areas of the south and south east of England, stretching
A very difficult choice this month with four new species for Derbyshire to choose from. Three micros and a macro, but my choice goes to Brian Hallam’s fantastic record of Cloaked Pug, which he recorded on 11th July 2025 from his overnight garden light trap in Findern. A remarkable record of a species that appeared
The third record of an adult Gypsy Moth (Lymantria dispar) was discovered by Adrian Watson at Littleover, Derby, when he emptied his overnight moth trap on 1st/2nd August 2025.
My good friend Will Soar called me this afternoon to say he had trapped a few good moths overnight (27th July 2025) from his garden light trap at Kings Newton, recording 254/63. Sure enough one of the micros was a first record since 1987 and Small Mottled Willow is a rare migrant in Derbyshire, with
I ran my 20W actinic Skinner Moth trap overnight 19th July 2025, Melbourne, Derbyshire. Results are as follows in no particular order – Water Veneer 52; Ruby Tiger 4; Willow Beauty 4, Riband Wave 25, , Lime-speck Pug 2, Dark Arches 4, Elephant Hawk-moth 2, Spectacle 2, Dusky Sallow 1, Bright-line Brown-eye 1, Broad-bordered Yellow
Christian Heintzen has put together this fantastic plate showing the amazing range of patterns, markings and colours of the July Highflier – Hydriomena furcata , making it one, if not, the most variable of moth species. On 14th July he recorded 137 from his moth traps in Glossop providing him with the ideal opportunity to
I ran my 20W actinic Skinner Moth trap overnight 13th July 2025, Melbourne, Derbyshire. Results are as follows in no particular order – Swallow-tailed Moth (1); Ruby Tiger (5); Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing (3); Epiphyas postvittana (Light-brown Apple Moth) (4); Pyrausta aurata (Mint Moth) (5); Willow Beauty (7); Least Carpet (6); Riband Wave (17); Chrysoteuchia
The first record of Dark Crimson Underwing for VC57 Derbyshire was recorded by Nikki Mahadevan, when she trapped one in her Shirland garden on 11th August 2023. It was a remarkable record of a species that is confined to the New Forest, so the likely hood of it being a wandering migrant was highly likely.
An exciting new species for VC57 Derbyshire, when Dave Evans tentatively identified Dichomeris alacella in his overnight mv light trap on 10th July 2025 in Belper. Due to the difficulties involved with the ID, Dave got in touch with Stephen Palmer, from the Gelechiid Recording Scheme, and put forward his thoughts on his identification. Stephen
Whilst moth trapping at Wildboar Clough, Longdendale on 8th/9th July 22025, Christian Heintzen record two individuals of the micro moth, Monochroa cytisella, representing a new species for VC57 Derbyshire. Strange that this moth has not been recorded before, as it is supposed to be widespread where the food plant, bracken occurs, and there seems to
A new species of micro moth for VC57 Derbyshire was recorded on 30th June 2025. Dave Evans found Argyresthia arceuthina (White-headed Tip Moth) in his huge haul of moths whist trapping at Darwin Forest, Matlock. This represents the 899th species of micro moth for VC57 Derbyshire. Dave did amazingly well to find this tiny little
A new species of macro moth for VC57 Derbyshire was brought to my attention via the recorder. Upon investigation on iRecorder the data had been processed by another person outside of our Verification team. The moth concerned was a Kent Black Arches that had been trapped at Drakelow Reserve (VC57 and not the Staffordshire side)
A second record of Brindled White Spot was trapped overnight on 3rd July 2025 at Darwin Forest, Matlock by Dave Evans. Hot on the heals of the first record which was from Rosliston Forest, 17th May 2024.
I ran my 20W actinic moth trap from my garden in Melbourne, Derbyshire overnight on 1st July 2025 – Results as follows in no particular order – Box Tree Moth (17 inc a melanic individual); Swallow-tailed Moth (4); Ruby Tiger (1); Common Footman (18); Scarce Footman (10); Snout (1); Riband Wave 18); Willow Beauty (7);
June produced a wide range of exciting migrant moths, into the VC57 recording area. A total of 35 separate records covering 14 species, were received including a first record of Small Marbled for Derbyshire. This was followed by a further three more during the period 29-1st July 2025. The first record was recorded from Matlock
A Small Marbled (Eublemma parva) was recorded in a garden moth trap at Matlock, by Dan Martin, overnight on 27th June 2025. This represents the first record for VC57 and Derbyshire of this migrant from Southern Europe. The species is especially rare inland, but is frequently recorded at UK coastal sites during times of high
A new micro moth species for Derbyshire & VC57 was recorded from Norton Lees on 21st June 2025 by Pete Mella. A Grapholita lobarzewskii (Small Fruit Moth) was attracted to his garden light trap.
