Orange Moth       Large Thorn
70.231 BF1910  –  Geometridae –  Ennominae – Apeira syringaria – Lilac Beauty –  (Linnaeus, 1758) Adult Macro:  CAT 2 – Can be confused with other species – Good photographs maybe required – Can be confused with other species       PDF Icon – click for Adult Macro Verification Guidelines
Green –  Rare / Uncommon / Scarce   
Taxonomy:   Macro   >>  Geometridae  >> Ennominae
ID Difficulty:  green  – easy to identify, generally distinctive and unlikely to be confused with other species.
ID pointers: A large moth that is distinctive. Attractively marked with lilac and orange-brown shades across both upper-wing surfaces. The resting posture is diagnostic with leading edge of forewing creased.  A bold brown horizontal line runs through fore & hind wing and a row of tiny black spots on hind wing.
Distribution:  (Last record: 6 September 2025 at Drakelow WR )  –  Resident widely distributed but generally uncommon in Derbyshire. Restricted to the south of the county and the population is precarious with very few records. Smaller numbers further north.
General Comment: None Flight Period: June /  July –  On the wing June – July – one generation Moth Activity: Nocturnal   – and is attracted to light Photographed: Yes –  Photographed By: Jane & Phil Lester, Dave Evans/ Clive Ashton  © All Rights Reserved
*** Last updated on 13 January 2026 by TD ***
Wingspan: 38-42mm
Forewing: 19-28mm Food Plant: Honeysuckle (Lonicera), Ash and Wild Privet (Ligustrum).
Last Recorded Year: 2025
Last Recorded By – Mike Williams
Last Recorded General Area – Drakelow WR
Selected Images:  Curbar, Derbyshire –  Jane & Phil Lester © / Belper – Dave Evans© / Cromford (2025) Clive Ashton©

70.231 BF1910 - Lilac Beauty - Geometridae - Apeira syringaria
Lilac Beauty – Apeira syringaria – Dave Evans
Lilac Beauty - Apeira syringaria - Dave Evans
Lilac Beauty – Apeira syringaria – Dave Evans
Lilac Beauty - 11th June 2025 - Cromford - Clive Ashton
Lilac Beauty – 11th June 2025 – Cromford – Clive Ashton
70.231 BF1910 - Lilac Beauty - Geometridae - Apeira syringaria
Lilac Beauty - Apeira syringaria - Dave Evans
Lilac Beauty - 11th June 2025 - Cromford - Clive Ashton


Image Gallery

Lilac Beauty - 11th June 2025 - Cromford - Clive Ashton Lilac Beauty - 9th August 2023 - Belper - Dave Evans

Distribution Map for Apeira syringaria

Found 119 records
    ↳ from 2026+
    ↳ 19 from 2020 - 2025
    ↳ 100 from Before 2020
Flying
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

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.

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 – Apeira syringaria

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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.

Visit NBN Site


Monthly Records By Year: Apeira syringaria
( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )

Monthly Counts By Year: Apeira syringaria
( data is based on 'Adult' stage records only. )


First/Last Recorded Dates: Apeira syringaria
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: Apeira syringaria
( All data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )
Annual Growth Rate (AGR): Apeira syringaria
AGR: -1.68%   |   Total % Change: -33.3%

Hectad (10kmx10km) Coverage: Apeira syringaria
( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )

Flight Periods – Indicative –vs– Recorded Data
Apeira syringaria
( data includes Adult Stage only )

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 - Apeira syringaria – 119 records available

Listed by Year - descending - scroll across to see all table columns

Site NameTetradDateCountStageSource
Drakelow N.R.SK22F06/09/20251adultvc57_irecords_extract
Darwin ForestSK26X30/06/20251adultvc57_irecords_extract
upper cromford gardenSK25Y23/06/20251adultvc57_irecords_extract
BelperSK34U20/06/20251adultvc57_irecords_extract
Shallcross Avenue, Whaley BridgeSK07E17/06/20251Adultvc57_irecords_extract
upper cromford gardenSK25Y11/06/20251adultvc57_irecords_extract
upper cromford gardenSK25Y28/06/20241adultvc57_irecords_extract
StonebroomSK45E27/06/20241adultvc57_irecords_extract
upper cromford gardenSK25Y26/06/20241adultvc57_irecords_extract
Markham Vale South TipSK47K26/06/20241adultvc57_irecords_extract
Shallcross Avenue, Whaley BridgeSK07E25/06/20241Adultvc57_irecords_extract
upper cromford gardenSK25Y25/06/20241adultvc57_irecords_extract
Froggatt, Hope ValleySK27N22/06/20241adultvc57_irecords_extract
BelperSK34U09/08/20231adultvc57_irecords_extract
Hathersage, Derbyshire, UKSK28F24/06/20231adultvc57_irecords_extract
Bowstocks Lane, RisleySK43S28/08/20221adultvc57_irecords_extract
EA depotSK43G22/06/20221adultvc57_irecords_extract
Hathersage, Derbyshire, UKSK28F17/06/20221adultvc57_irecords_extract
Not givenSK27N08/07/20211Adultvc57_irecords_extract
The Meads, Shipley Park, HeanorSK44H13/07/20191adultDanes_2019-2021
Birch ValeSK08I06/07/20171adultvc57_irecords_extract
Whitwell Wood (centre area), Whitwell, WorksopSK57J17/06/20173Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
BelperSK34U07/07/20151adultvc57_irecords_extract
Backgarden MarehaySK34Z30/06/20151adultvc57_irecords_extract
Backgarden MarehaySK34Z05/09/20141adultvc57_irecords_extract
Backgarden MarehaySK34Z25/06/20141adultvc57_irecords_extract
Hillside, The Hillock, Curbur, CalverSK27M24/06/20141Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Backgarden MarehaySK34Z21/06/20142adultvc57_irecords_extract
Duffield Rd, Allestree, DerbySK34K19/07/20131Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Duffield Rd, Allestree, DerbySK34K19/07/20131Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Blacksmith's Lane, Egginton, Burton on TrentSK22U15/07/20131Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Blacksmith's Lane, Egginton, Burton on TrentSK22U15/07/20131Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
School Close,Parkway Gardens,Darley DaleSK26R08/07/20131Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
School Close,Parkway Gardens,Darley DaleSK26R08/07/20131Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Backgarden MarehaySK34Z06/07/20131adultvc57_irecords_extract
Gillfield Wood, Totley, SheffieldSK27Z21/07/20121Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Marlborough Rd,Long EatonSK43X06/06/20111Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Marlborough Rd,Long EatonSK43X06/06/20111Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Hardhurst Rd, Alvaston, DerbySK33W20/07/20101Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Lowes Hill,RipleySK35V07/07/20101Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Rose Av,ClowneSK57D02/07/20101Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Rose Av,ClowneSK57D01/07/20101Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Lowes Hill,RipleySK35V20/06/20101Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Ault Hucknall,GlapwellSK46S10/07/20091Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Bristol Rd,IlkestonSK44R24/06/20081Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Gallows Inn, IlkestonSK44Q24/06/20061Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Lowes Hill,RipleySK35V24/06/20061Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Calke Park (Betty's Pool - west), TicknallSK32R27/07/20011Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Gallows Inn Close,IlkestonSK44Q01/07/20012Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
School Close,Parkway Gardens,Darley DaleSK26R07/07/19991Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Gallows Inn, IlkestonSK44Q02/07/19991Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
School Close,Parkway Gardens,Darley DaleSK26R01/07/19991Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Calke Park (Poker's Leys), TicknallSK32L19/07/19981Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
School Close,Parkway Gardens,Darley DaleSK26R07/07/19981Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
The Field,Shipley,IlkestonSK44M01/07/19981Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
School Close,Parkway Gardens,Darley DaleSK26R01/07/19981Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
The Field,Shipley,IlkestonSK44M01/07/19981Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Far Cross,Cavendish Park,MatlockSK36A22/07/19961Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Lancaster Ave,SandiacreSK43S15/07/19961Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
The Field,Shipley,IlkestonSK44M06/07/19951Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
The Field,Shipley,IlkestonSK44M06/07/19951Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Golden Brook NR, Breaston, Long EatonSK43R09/07/19941Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Golden Brook NR, Breaston, Long EatonSK43R09/07/19941Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Stevens Rd, SandiacreSK43T03/07/19941Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
The Firs, The Avenue, BakewellSK26E01/07/19941Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Cross Green Cottages,Flint Lane,South DarleySK26Q28/06/19931Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
The Drey, A Sitwell St, SpondonSK33X29/06/19921Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Cross Green Cottages,Flint Lane,South DarleySK26Q25/06/19921Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Fernhill Rd, MellorSJ98U27/06/19901Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Johnnygate, Barlow, ChesterfieldSK37C25/08/19891Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Johnnygate, Barlow, ChesterfieldSK37C25/08/19891Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Johnnygate, Barlow, ChesterfieldSK37C05/08/19891Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Johnnygate, Barlow, ChesterfieldSK37C05/08/19891Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Johnnygate, Barlow, ChesterfieldSK37C16/07/19881Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Johnnygate, Barlow, ChesterfieldSK37C16/07/19881Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Lumb House, Eversleigh Rise, South Darley, Darley BridgeSK26Q26/06/19881Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Lumb House, Eversleigh Rise, South Darley, Darley BridgeSK26Q26/06/19881Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Carsington Cresent, Allestree, DerbySK33J15/07/19862Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Carsington Cresent, Allestree, DerbySK33J15/07/19862Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Spring Wood, Calke, TicknallSK32Q24/04/198525Larvaevc57_danes_bc_data
Brierley Wood, Unstone (site not precise)SK37T19/04/198515Larvaevc57_danes_bc_data
Matlock (Teacher Training College)SK36A17/07/19832Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Drummond Rd, IlkestonSK44R14/07/19832Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Drummond Rd, IlkestonSK44R12/07/19832Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Matlock (Teacher Training College)SK36A07/07/19831Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Drummond Rd, IlkestonSK44R05/07/19831Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Matlock (Teacher Training College)SK36A02/07/19821Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Matlock (Teacher Training College)SK36A22/07/19811Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Askew Grove, ReptonSK32D21/07/19811Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Lings Close,IlkestonSK44S19/07/19811Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Matlock (Teacher Training College)SK36A09/07/19811Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Shardlow Hall, Shardlow, Long EatonSK43F08/07/19811Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Shardlow Hall, Shardlow, Long EatonSK43F08/07/19811Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Barnard Ave, Coal AstonSK37U01/01/19811Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Barnard Ave, Coal AstonSK37U01/01/19811Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Matlock (Teacher Training College)SK36A07/07/19801Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Clough Wood,Darley Dale (site not precise)SK26K04/04/19801Larvaevc57_danes_bc_data
Ford Lane,Allestree,DerbySK34K08/07/19791Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Ford Lane, Allestree, DerbySK34K08/07/19791Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Shardlow Hall, Shardlow, Long EatonSK43F26/07/19781Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Shardlow Hall, Shardlow, Long EatonSK43F24/07/19781Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Shardlow Hall, Shardlow, Long EatonSK43F24/07/19781Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Field Close, Hilton, Burton on TrentSK23K10/07/19781Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Askew Grove, ReptonSK32D29/06/19781Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Shardlow Hall, Shardlow, Long EatonSK43F01/08/19771Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Shardlow Hall, Shardlow, Long EatonSK43F01/08/19771Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Cambridge Wood, Darley DaleSK26K08/03/197717Larvaevc57_danes_bc_data
Clough Wood,Darley Dale (site not precise)SK26K12/02/19753Larvaevc57_danes_bc_data
Clough Wood,Darley DaleSK26K22/02/19741Larvaevc57_danes_bc_data
Melton Ave, Littleover, DerbySK33G18/07/19551Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Langley Mill, Heanor (site not precise)SK44N01/01/19201Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Chellaston, Derby (site not precise)SK33Q11/07/19181Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Repton, Swadlincote (site not precise)SK32B01/07/19061Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Kirk Langley (site not precise)SK23Z01/07/19021Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Barrow on Trent, Derby (site not precise)SK32P01/01/18851Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Kedleston St, Derby (site assumed to be his garden)SK33N01/01/18851Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Barrow on Trent, Derby (site not precise)SK32P01/01/18851Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Kedleston St, Derby (site assumed to be his garden)SK33N01/01/18851Adultvc57_danes_bc_data
Repton, Swadlincote (site not precise)SK32B01/01/18001Adultvc57_danes_bc_data

Orange Moth       Large Thorn

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