Common Swift - Korscheltellus lupulina

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Alternative names
Swift, Hepialus lupulinus
Description

Wingspan 25-40 mm. A variable species, ranging in colour fron gingery brown to pale grey, and with white markings of varying boldness.

Identification difficulty
Habitat

Various grassland, gardens and roadside verges.

When to see it

The adults fly in May and June.

Life History

Feeding on the roots of grasses and small plants, the larvae live underground.

UK Status

The commonest of the Swift moths, distributed throughout Britain.

VC55 Status

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

Reference
3.002 BF17
  • Graham Calow
    Sapcote garden1
    19 May 2014
  • Kate Nightingale
    Cropston garden
    04 June 2016
    attracted to light-trap
  • David Gould
    Aylestone Meadows, Spearwort Fields
    02 June 2018
  • Kate Nightingale
    Cropston garden
    04 June 2016
  • Barbara Cooper
    Long Clawson
    08 June 2021
  • Graham Calow
    Sapcote garden1
    28 May 2010

Leicestershire & Rutland Map

MAP KEY:

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

UK Map

Species data profile ?

Species profile

Common names
Common Swift
Species group:
insect - moth
Kingdom:
Animalia
Order:
Lepidoptera
Family:
Hepialidae
Records on NatureSpot:
497
First record:
31/05/1997 (Nicholls, David)
Last record:
10/06/2025 (Cooper, Barbara)

Total records by month

% of records within its species group

10km squares with records

The latest images and records displayed below include those awaiting verification checks so we cannot guarantee that every identification is correct. Once accepted, the record displays a green tick.

In the Latest Records section, click on the header to sort A-Z, and again to sort Z-A. Use the header boxes to filter the list.

Latest images

Latest records

  • Craig Mabbett
    broughton astley garden
    18 June 2016
  • egaten
    Thurlaston garden
    27 May 2019
  • Andy's Rutland
    Empingham garden
    25 May 2018
  • Graham Calow
    Sapcote garden1
    01 June 2017
    plain brown form
  • egaten
    Thurlaston garden
    20 June 2015
  • Barbara Cooper
    Long Clawson
    31 May 2017
  • Barbara Cooper
    Long Clawson
    14 May 2019
  • egaten
    Thurlaston garden
    06 June 2016
  • egaten
    Thurlaston garden
    09 June 2020
  • Rod Baker
    Newton Harcourt
    19 June 2012
    Common Swift
  • Barbara Cooper
    Long Clawson
    20 June 2013
  • Graham Calow
    Sapcote garden1
    05 May 2011
  • David Nicholls
    Ratby garden
    01 June 2012
  • Mike Higgott
    County Hall
    31 May 2017
  • Barbara Cooper
    Long Clawson
    07 June 2018
  • Barbara Cooper
    Long Clawson
    02 June 2014
  • David Nicholls
    Ratby garden
    01 June 2014