63.120 BF1328 – Crambidae – Schoenobiidae – Schoenobius gigantella
Crambidae – Schoenobiidae – Schoenobius gigantella – Giant Water-veneer
STATUS – According to the 1986 publication of Micro Moths in Derbyshire by Harrison and Sterling, there was only one record from Repton in 1881. The first modern day record for the county was on 17th July 2020, when Steve Thorpe trapped one in his garden moth-trap at Breaston. His garden backs onto the Golden Brook Nature Reserve at Breaston, a large area of wetland. Further records from Steve, with the latest in July 2023. Dan Martin trapped a single specimen at Barlborough on 24th June 2023. There doesn’t appear to be any other Derbyshire records published in recent modern day literature. By Dan highlighting his specimen, this provoked the records by Steve Thorpe, from his Breaston garden in the south of the county. So, maybe this species is more widespread across Derbyshire than is realised, especially wherever there are reed-beds and wetland areas with suitable habitat.
ID POINTERS – Male forewing is rather broad with wing tips blunt, light brownish to brown, sometimes tinted reddish or thinly speckled blackish. Two small dark dots usually present about two thirds along forewing, and others variably scattered. The females are larger than the males and not so well marked, with a more narrow, brown forewing. Can be unmarked or can show a blackish dot at about two thirds. Can show a buff streak along the costa, as in this specimen, and dark shading at the apex of the wing. Extremely long “labial palps”.
FLIGHT PERIOD – Single brooded and on the wing from May – July.
IMAGES – Breaston, Derbyshire – Image by Steve Thorpe© – Barlborough, Derbyshire – Image by Dan Martin©
