Derbyshire Moth News

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

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). 

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

There have been two new and confirmed species of moth for Derbyshire and VC57 during this week commencing 6th October 2025. First of all a Macro Moth, Dotted Border Wave which was recorded from a garden moth trap at Dronfield Woodhouse on 7th August 2020 by Andrew Williamson. It was discovered whilst I was verifying

The September 2025 Moth News for Derbyshire features all the Derbyshire moth highlights during the month, a new species of Leaf Miner Phyllocnistis xenia, a feature on the DaNES Open Day and a feature on the NBN Awards, as the Derbyshire Moth Recording Team are finalists, plus lots more.

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

The August 2025 Moth News Bulletin features all the Derbyshire moth highlights during the month, a new species Evergestis extimalis, an ID feature on Campion v Lychnis, latest migrants and much more.

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

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

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

The July 2025 Moth News Bulletin features all the Derbyshire moth highlights during the month, with four county first records (3 micros & 1 Macro). A bumper month of moth-ing to say the least.

The second record of Gypsy Moth (Lymantria dispar) was discovered by Adrian Watson at Littleover, Derby, when he emptied his overnight moth trap on 1st/2nd August 2025. An excellent record and following “hot on the heels” of the first county record from August 2024. 

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

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