70.047 BF1720 – The Gem – Nycterosea obstipata – (Fabricius, 1794)
Adult Macro: CAT 2 – Can be confused with other species – Good photographs maybe required – 
– click for Adult Macro Verification Guidelines
– click for Adult Macro Verification Guidelines
– Significant Record / Very Rare / Vagrant 
– Migrant
– care required in the identification process, as confusion with similar species is likely – quality photographs required. ID pointers: The ground colour of the male wing is an orange-brown with a wavy cross-band running through the central area of the forewing. This band is usually a darker contrasting purple-brown. Can be very faded and most often is on migrants. The female is better marked being a deep rosewood-brown with a distinctive white ring shaped central forewing spot and faint whitish wavy cross-lines.
Distribution: (Last record: 6 November 2024 at Belper ) – A very rare immigrant to Derbyshire. There are very few records of this species being seen or captured in Derbyshire. Several in the 1800’s and then four records in the 1960’s. Single records in 2003, 2015 & 2022, with the latest accounts from 28th October 2024 – Chaddesden and 6th November 2024.
General Comment: None *** Last updated on 2 October 2025 by RP ***
Forewing: 12-14mm
Last Recorded Year: 2024
Last Recorded By – Dave Evans
Last Recorded General Area – Belper
Selected Images: 1 – Martin Roome © / 2 – Male – Foremark Reservoir – Image by Tony Davison ©
Image Gallery
No gallery images found for this moth.
Temporal Distribution Chart
Adults: (between 1969 - 2024)
(click legend below to show/hide datasets)
Distribution Map for Nycterosea obstipata
Found 18 records
↳ from 2026+
↳ 3 from 2020 - 2025
↳ 15 from Before 2020
↳ from 2026+
↳ 3 from 2020 - 2025
↳ 15 from Before 2020
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Bedrock Geology ** indirectly affects moth distribution by influencing the type of habitat and food plants available in an area. In turn, this may affect the types of moths that can thrive, or where they can most likely be found.
NBN Atlas UK Distribution for – Nycterosea obstipata
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Note – the NBN Atlas datasets are listed in the map below and vary in their currency (uptodateness) – however,
the map does give a general indication of the moth's distribution across the UK.
Monthly Records By Year:
Nycterosea obstipata
( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )
Monthly Counts By Year:
Nycterosea obstipata
( data is based on 'Adult' stage records only )
First/Last Recorded Dates: Nycterosea obstipata
Adult-only & Anything [Larvae, Pupae, Adult, Mines]
Shading shows moth presence between dates
Click the colour discs below to Select/De-select as Required
Recordings By Year: Nycterosea obstipata
( All data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )
Annual Growth Rate (AGR): Nycterosea obstipata
AGR: 0% | Total % Change: 0%
Hectad (10kmx10km) Coverage: Nycterosea obstipata
( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )
Flight Periods – Indicative –vs– Recorded Data
Nycterosea obstipata
Nycterosea obstipata
Flight Period chart – the grey hatched area above, which can cross one or more months, pictorially represents the best guess we have for this moth's flight periods [month/s]. The coloured lines represent the actual months seen in flight, from site observation records received between 2020-2026.
Records Behind the Map and Charts - Nycterosea obstipata – 18 records available
Listed by Year - descending - scroll across to see all table columns
| Site Name | Tetrad | Date | Count | Stage | Recorder | Source | RecordKey |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Belper | SK34N | 06/11/2024 | 1 | adult | Evans, Dave | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC39120096 |
| Chaddesden, Derby | SK33T | 28/10/2024 | 1 | adult | roome, martin | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC39793612 |
| EA depot | SK43G | 19/07/2022 | 1 | adult | Collins, Stuart | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC28766635 |
| Backgarden Marehay | SK34Z | 07/09/2015 | 1 | adult | Thorpe, Steve | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC33506125 |
| Newshaw Lane, Hadfield, Glossop | SK09C | 04/08/2006 | 1 | Adult | P. Bate | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001OHU0O |
| Newshaw Lane, Hadfield, Glossop | SK09C | 04/08/2006 | 1 | Adult | P. Bate | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001WPB5N |
| FOREMARK RESERVOIR | SK32H | 18/11/2003 | 1 | adult | Davison, Tony | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC33454871 |
| Foremark Resr, Ticknall | SK32H | 18/11/2003 | 1 | Adult | A. Davison;N. Topliss | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001OHPMC |
| Deerlands Rd, Ashgate, Chesterfield | SK37K | 01/09/1996 | 1 | Adult | VC57 Derbyshire Recorder | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001OHNFK |
| Far Cross,Cavendish Park,Matlock | SK36A | 21/08/1996 | 1 | Adult | B.L. Statham | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001OI2TD |
| Stevens Rd, Sandiacre | SK43T | 19/08/1996 | 1 | Adult | VC57 Derbyshire Recorder | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001OJ091 |
| Stocksmoor Farm, Ashover Rd, Old Tupton | SK36S | 25/07/1996 | 1 | Adult | VC57 Derbyshire Recorder | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001OJ013 |
| Stevens Rd, Sandiacre | SK43T | 08/07/1996 | 1 | Adult | VC57 Derbyshire Recorder | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001OIBKW |
| The Field,Shipley,Ilkeston | SK44M | 13/06/1996 | 1 | Adult | T. Duro | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001OIZLY |
| Gallows Inn Close,Ilkeston | SK44Q | 07/06/1996 | 1 | Adult | A.D. Price | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001OHN36 |
| Far Cross,Cavendish Park,Matlock | SK36A | 05/08/1987 | 3 | Adult | B.L. Statham | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001OIT3J |
| Welbeck Rd, Bolsover | SK47Q | 19/10/1969 | 1 | Adult | M.E. Bradley | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001OHW6F |
| Newbold Drive, Chesterfield | SK37R | 18/09/1969 | 1 | Adult | VC57 Derbyshire Recorder | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001OIHPS |