Gelechia nigra - 19/7/2024 - Chaddesden - Neil Loverock - 1st VC57 record since 1916
35.105 BF806  – Black Gelechia  – Gelechia nigra  – (Haworth, 1828)
Adult Micro:  CAT 3 – Very rare or scarce species (includes very scarce adventives/immigrants) – confusion with leaf mines      
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Brown –  Significant Record / Very Rare / Vagrant    
Taxonomy:   Micro   >>  Gelechiidae  >> Gellechiinae
Other Name/s: Black Groundling
ID Difficulty:  amber  – care required in the identification process, as confusion with similar species is likely – quality photographs required.
ID pointers: The forewing is blackish-brown to blackish with a few whitish, markings and scales. A black longitudinal streak at about one half and a faint whitish angled cross-band at about three-quarters. On the folded wing the cilia show as a pale band.
Distribution:  (First record: 19 July 2024 at Chaddesden, Derby )  –  (Last record: 20 July 2024 at Chaddesden, Derby )  –  A first record of this species since 1916. One attracted to a garden light trap in Chaddesden, Derby on 19th July 2024. Incredibly another specimen was recorded on 20th July 2024 from another garden light trap in Chaddesden, Derby. Nationally it is a local species, extending its range upwards from south-east England to the north-west.
General Comment: None
Flight Period: July /  August –  On the wing in June – July Moth Activity: Nocturnal   – and is attracted to light Photographed: Yes –  Photographed By: Neil Loverock  © All Rights Reserved
*** Last updated on 2 October 2025 by RP ***
Wingspan: 13-18mm
Food Plant: Aspen, White, or Grey Poplar.
Last Recorded Year: 2024
First Recorded Year: 2024
Last Recorded By – Martin Roome
Last Recorded General Area – Chaddesden, Derby

Selected Images:  Chaddesden, Derbyshire – Neil Loverock © / Chaddesden 20/7/2024 – Martin Roome©



Temporal Distribution Chart
Adults: (between 2024 - 2025)
(click legend below to show/hide datasets)
 

Distribution Map for Gelechia nigra

Found 3 records
    ↳ from 2026+
    ↳ 3 from 2020 - 2025
    ↳ from Before 2020
Flying
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

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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 – Gelechia nigra

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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.

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Monthly Records By Year: Gelechia nigra
( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )

Monthly Counts By Year: Gelechia nigra
( data is based on 'Adult' stage records only )

First/Last Recorded Dates: Gelechia nigra
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: Gelechia nigra
( All data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )
Annual Growth Rate (AGR): Gelechia nigra
AGR: 0%   |   Total % Change: 0%

Hectad (10kmx10km) Coverage: Gelechia nigra
( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )

Flight Periods – Indicative –vs– Recorded Data
Gelechia nigra

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 - Gelechia nigra – 3 records available

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

Site NameTetradDateCountStageRecorderSourceRecordKey
Allestree, DerbySK33P18/07/20251adultPlant, Stephenvc57_irecords_extractiBRC48465847
Chaddesden, DerbySK33T20/07/20241adultroome, martinvc57_irecords_extractiBRC38324252
Chaddesden, Derby, DerbySK33T19/07/20241adultloverock, neilvc57_irecords_extractiBRC37191936

 
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