Anthophila fabriciana

Alternative names
Nettle-tap
Common Nettle-tap
Description

Wingspan 10-15 mm. Wing colour a patchwork of browns and greys sometimes with a frosted appearance. The edge of the forewing is often chequered.

Identification difficulty
Habitat

Waste ground and in hedgerows and gardens where Common Nettle grows.

When to see it

It flies in the daytime from May throughout the summer and can sometimes be found in large numbers around clumps of Common Nettle.

Life History

The larval foodplant is Nettle.

UK Status

Very common species, occurring throughout Britain. In the Butterfly Conservation’s Microlepidoptera Report 2011 this species was classified as common.

VC55 Status

Common and sometimes abundant in Leicestershire and Rutland. L&R Moth Group status = A (common and resident)

Reference
48.001 BF385

Leicestershire & Rutland Map

MAP KEY:

Yellow squares = NBN records (all known data)
Coloured circles = NatureSpot records: 2020+ | 2015-2019 | pre-2015

UK Map

Species profile

Common names
Nettle-Tap, Common Nettle-tap
Species group:
Moths
Kingdom:
Animalia
Order:
Lepidoptera
Family:
Choreutidae
Records on NatureSpot:
410
First record:
11/06/2003 (Skevington, Mark)
Last record:
02/05/2024 (Dejardin, Andrew)

Total records by month

% of records within its species group

10km squares with records

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