73.302 BF2204 – Obscure Wainscot – Leucania obsoleta – (Hübner, 1803)
Adult Macro: CAT 2 – Can be confused with other species – Good photographs may be required – 
– click for Adult Macro Verification Guidelines
– click for Adult Macro Verification Guidelines
– Rare / Uncommon / Scarce
– care required in the identification process, as confusion with similar species is likely – quality photographs required. Confusion Species: Southern Wainscot; Smoky Wainscot
ID pointers: Dark brown markings help to highlight the white veins running through the central area of the forewing. There is a small white central spot at the end of one of the major veins and this is less obvious in pale specimens. The early flying period helps to identify this moth from other Wainscots.
Distribution: (First record: 7 June 2008 at Drakelow WR ) – (Last record: 25 June 2025 at Belper ) – First recorded in Derbyshire at Drakelow Reserve, near Burton-on-Trent on 7th June 2008, and recorded from their frequently since. Account taken from DaNES Journal 162 – 2008. The species favours wetland with expanse of phragmites reed beds. Further trapping in areas of common reed may discover other colonies. A new site for the species was at Newall, discovered in 2018. A few records in 2023, including a rather odd ball one from Hathersage on 24th June, which could have referred to a migrant. Only a handful of records in 2024 so this species remains rare in the county.
General Comment: None *** Last updated on 13 January 2026 by TD ***
Forewing: 15-18mm
Last Recorded Year: 2025
First Recorded Year: 2008
Last Recorded By – Dave Newcombe
Last Recorded General Area – Belper
Selected Images: 24th June 2023 – Hathersage – The late Claire Miles© / Belper 25th June 2025 – Dave Newcombe©
Image Gallery
No gallery images found for this moth.
Temporal Distribution Chart
Adults: (between 2008 - 2025)
(click legend below to show/hide datasets)
This chart summarises all available historical occurrence records collated by ISO week of the year. It reflects recorder effort and sampling distribution as well as true biological activity, and should be interpreted as an indicative pattern of seasonal occurrence rather than a statistically controlled abundance or phenology model.
Distribution Map for Leucania obsoleta
Found 31 records
↳ from 2026+
↳ 23 from 2020 - 2025
↳ 8 from Before 2020
↳ from 2026+
↳ 23 from 2020 - 2025
↳ 8 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.
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 – Leucania obsoleta
⚠️ Please wait for the map to load fully – do not click the link shown.
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:
Leucania obsoleta
( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )
Monthly Counts By Year:
Leucania obsoleta
( data is based on 'Adult' stage records only )
First/Last Recorded Dates: Leucania obsoleta
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: Leucania obsoleta
( All data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )
Annual Growth Rate (AGR): Leucania obsoleta
AGR: -4% | Total % Change: -50%
Hectad (10kmx10km) Coverage: Leucania obsoleta
( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )
Flight Periods – Indicative –vs– Recorded Data
Leucania obsoleta
Leucania obsoleta
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 - Leucania obsoleta – 31 records available
Listed by Year - descending - scroll across to see all table columns
| Site Name | Tetrad | Date | Count | Stage | Recorder | Source | RecordKey |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Belper, Derbyshire | SK34N | 25/06/2025 | 1 | adult | Newcombe, Dave | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC43961972 |
| Midway, Derbys. | SK32A | 14/06/2025 | 1 | adult | Williams, Michael | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC42348617 |
| Allestree, Derby | SK33P | 12/06/2025 | 1 | adult | Plant, Stephen | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC42597067 |
| Allestree | SK34K | 12/06/2025 | 1 | adult | Watson, Mick | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC48398623 |
| Drakelow, Derbys. | SK22F | 10/06/2025 | 1 | adult | Williams, Michael | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC42209669 |
| Woodland Ave | SK43R | 06/06/2025 | 1 | adult | Thorpe, Steve | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC48390807 |
| Stonebroom | SK45E | 05/07/2024 | 1 | adult | Bradley, Jonathan | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC36844574 |
| Markham Vale South Tip | SK47K | 26/06/2024 | 14 | adult | Morris, Sid | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC36697321 |
| Darley Bridge | SK26Q | 25/06/2024 | 1 | Adult | Moores, Stephen | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC36637448 |
| Darley Bridge | SK26Q | 24/06/2024 | 1 | adult | Mr Stephen Moores | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC36706194 |
| Markham Vale South Tip | SK47L | 23/06/2024 | 1 | adult | Morris, Sid | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC36628949 |
| Sandiacre Garden | SK43T | 22/06/2024 | 1 | adult | Milnes, Emily | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC39166128 |
| Middleton by Wirksworth | SK25T | 02/07/2023 | 1 | adult | Dinsdale, Kay | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC31243782 |
| Hathersage, Derbyshire, UK | SK28F | 24/06/2023 | 2 | adult | Miles, Claire | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC31129848 |
| Woodland Ave | SK43R | 23/06/2023 | 1 | adult | Thorpe, Steve | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC33496544 |
| Sandiacre | SK43T | 23/06/2023 | 1 | adult | Milnes, Emily | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC34377339 |
| Woodland Ave | SK43R | 25/06/2022 | 1 | Adult | Thorpe, Steve | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC27845942 |
| Hathersage, Derbyshire, UK | SK28F | 17/06/2022 | 1 | adult | Miles, Claire | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC28792660 |
| Findern, Derbyshire, DEAZ | SK33A | 16/06/2022 | 1 | adult | Brian and Jean Hallam | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC35166663 |
| Woodland Ave | SK43R | 12/06/2022 | 1 | Adult | Thorpe, Steve | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC27845770 |
| Not given | SK22F | 08/07/2021 | 11 | Adult | Williams, Michael | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC21020051 |
| Drakelow, Derbys. | SK22F | 08/07/2021 | 11 | adult | Williams, Michael | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC38545894 |
| Woodland Ave | SK43R | 02/06/2020 | 1 | adult | Thorpe, Steve | vc57_irecords_extract | iBRC33500915 |
| Drakelow NR (Minton's Lagoon), Burton on Trent | SK22F | 27/06/2015 | 9 | Adult | M.J. Williams | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001WQFY5 |
| Drakelow NR (Minton's Lagoon), Burton on Trent | SK22F | 21/06/2014 | 4 | Adult | M.J. Williams | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001WPKB7 |
| Drakelow NR (Minton's Lagoon), Burton on Trent | SK22F | 29/06/2013 | 2 | Adult | M.J. Williams | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001OLB5N |
| Drakelow NR (Minton's Lagoon), Burton on Trent | SK22F | 29/06/2013 | 2 | Adult | M.J. Williams | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001WOWQN |
| Drakelow NR (Minton's Lagoon), Burton on Trent | SK22F | 17/06/2010 | 2 | Adult | M.J. Williams | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001OKSW4 |
| Drakelow NR (Minton's Lagoon), Burton on Trent | SK22F | 17/06/2010 | 2 | Adult | M.J. Williams | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001WOOA8 |
| Drakelow NR (Minton's Lagoon), Burton on Trent | SK22F | 07/06/2008 | 2 | Adult | M.J. Williams;R. Williams | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001OKF3I |
| Drakelow NR (Minton's Lagoon), Burton on Trent | SK22F | 07/06/2008 | 2 | Adult | M.J. Williams;R. Williams | vc57_danes_bc_data | LC000334001WOO62 |