70.047 BF1720 - The Gem - Geometridae - Nycterosea obstipata

70.047 BF1720 – Geometridae – Larentiinae – Nycterosea obstipata – The Gem – (Fabricius, 1794)

Adult Macro: CAT 2 – Can be confused with other species –

– click for Adult Macro Verification Guidelines

– Significant Record / Very Rare / Vagrant – Migrant

Taxonomy: Macro >> . . >> Geometridae >> Larentiinae

Other Name/s: Orthonama obstipata

ID Difficulty: amber

– 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.

Flight Period: April / May / June / July / August / September / October / November / – Can be trapped anytime between April – November.

Moth Activity: Nocturnal – and is attracted to light

*** Last updated on 24 June 2025 by TD ***

✉️ Send Moth Page Feedback

Wingspan: 18-21mm
Forewing: 12-14mm

Food Plant: Various low-growing plants.

Last Recorded Year: 2024

Last Recorded By – Dave Evans

Last Recorded General Area – Belper

IMAGES BELOW: 1 – Martin Roome © / 2 – Male – Foremark Reservoir – Image by Tony Davison ©

The Gem 28/10/2024 – Chaddesden- Martin Roome

Gem Foremark Reservoir – 18-11-2003 – Tony Davison

The Gem – Dave Evans 6/11/2024 – Belper

The Gem - 6th November 2024 - Belper - Dave Evans

The Gem - 28th October 2024 - Chaddesden - Martin Roome

The Gem - November 2003 - Foremark Reservoir - Tony Davison©

Distribution Map for Nycterosea obstipata

derbyshiremoths.org © makes no guarantee of accuracy of data used in these maps and charts – they are presented to you with best endeavours and the data behind them updated periodically as time permits. Historic records are being discovered all the time. These will be assessed, so once they are all verified, they will be incorporated onto the map and charts.

Found 18 records
    ↳ 0 from After 2025
    ↳ 3 from 2020 - 2024
    ↳ 15 from Before 2020

If the Map Layers function fails, just refresh the page and it should be OK after. Use the +- zoom on the top left, or on a tablet, use two fingers to zoom. Remember, the last layer you ticked is the one which displays the popup information - they sit on top of each other - de-select then re-select, to see the popup values.

******* Choose ONLY one at a time, of either Monad, Tetrad or Hectad Distribution - each has it's own set of data. Also, the distribution maps cover ALL recorded data. *******

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.

Monthly Records By Year: Nycterosea obstipata

Monthly Counts By Year: Nycterosea obstipata

Recordings By Year: Nycterosea obstipata

Annual Growth Rate (AGR): Nycterosea obstipata

AGR: 0% | Total % Change: 0%

Years Analysed: 2000 – 2024

Hectad (10kmx10km) Coverage: Nycterosea obstipata

Flight Periods – Indicative –vs– Recorded Data
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 2020-2025.

Records Behind the Map and Charts - Nycterosea obstipata – 18 records available

Listed by Year - descending

Taxon	Site Name	Tetrad	Year	Date	Count	Stage
Nycterosea obstipata	Belper	SK34N	2024	06/11/2024	1	adult
Nycterosea obstipata	Chaddesden, Derby	SK33T	2024	28/10/2024	1	adult
Nycterosea obstipata	EA depot	SK43G	2022	19/07/2022	1	adult
Nycterosea obstipata	Backgarden Marehay	SK34Z	2015	07/09/2015	1	adult
Nycterosea obstipata	Newshaw Lane, Hadfield, Glossop	SK09C	2006	04/08/2006	1	Adult
Nycterosea obstipata	Newshaw Lane, Hadfield, Glossop	SK09C	2006	04/08/2006	1	Adult
Nycterosea obstipata	FOREMARK RESERVOIR	SK32H	2003	18/11/2003	1	adult
Nycterosea obstipata	Foremark Resr, Ticknall	SK32H	2003	18/11/2003	1	Adult
Nycterosea obstipata	Deerlands Rd, Ashgate, Chesterfield	SK37K	1996	01/09/1996	1	Adult
Nycterosea obstipata	Stevens Rd, Sandiacre	SK43T	1996	19/08/1996	1	Adult
Nycterosea obstipata	Far Cross,Cavendish Park,Matlock	SK36A	1996	21/08/1996	1	Adult
Nycterosea obstipata	Stocksmoor Farm, Ashover Rd, Old Tupton	SK36S	1996	25/07/1996	1	Adult
Nycterosea obstipata	Stevens Rd, Sandiacre	SK43T	1996	08/07/1996	1	Adult
Nycterosea obstipata	Gallows Inn Close,Ilkeston	SK44Q	1996	07/06/1996	1	Adult
Nycterosea obstipata	The Field,Shipley,Ilkeston	SK44M	1996	13/06/1996	1	Adult
Nycterosea obstipata	Far Cross,Cavendish Park,Matlock	SK36A	1987	05/08/1987	3	Adult
Nycterosea obstipata	Welbeck Rd, Bolsover	SK47Q	1969	19/10/1969	1	Adult
Nycterosea obstipata	Newbold Drive, Chesterfield	SK37R	1969	18/09/1969	1	Adult