Small Dotted Buff - Photedes minima

Description

Wingspan 20-23 mm. The females are smaller than the males and are more well-marked; the males are plain buffish with darker dots along the veins and often show a slight glossy sheen.

Identification difficulty
Habitat

Occupying marshy localities, damp woodland and similar habitats.

When to see it

The moths fly from June to August in a single brood.

Life History

The larvae feed on the stems of Tufted Hair-grass (Deschampsia cespitosa).

UK Status

A fairly common species over much of the British Isles. In a recent survey to determine the status of all macro moths in Britain this species was classified as common.

VC55 Status

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

Reference
73.147 BF2345

Leicestershire & Rutland Map

MAP KEY:

Yellow squares = NBN records (all known data)
Coloured circles = NatureSpot records: 2025+ | 2020-2024 | pre-2020

UK Map

Species profile

Common names
Small Dotted Buff
Species group:
insect - moth
Kingdom:
Animalia
Order:
Lepidoptera
Family:
Noctuidae
Records on NatureSpot:
153
First record:
24/06/2003 (Skevington, Mark)
Last record:
13/07/2025 (Pugh, Dylan)

Total records by month

% of records within its species group

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