The Annulet - Geometridae - Charissa obscurata - Rowan Wakefield
70.287 BF1964  – The Annulet  – Charissa obscurata  – ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775)
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  >> Larentiinae
ID Difficulty:  green  – easy to identify, generally distinctive and unlikely to be confused with other species.
ID pointers: Very variable in colour, with ground colour matching the soil or rocks in habitat. Markings consistent. Very scalloped fringes to fore & hind-wings. Also a very jagged central cross-line on fore & hind-wing and a “hollow” circle in central area on both wings.
Distribution:  (Last record: 7 August 2025 at Matlock )  –  A resident that is uncommon and locally distributed in Derbyshire. Seems confined to the Carboniferous Limestone areas of the county, with majority of sightings coming from the NW.
General Comment: None
Flight Period: July /  August –  July – August   – but can be disturbed during the day Photographed: Yes –  Photographed By: Rowan Wakefield  © All Rights Reserved
*** Last updated on 12 January 2026 by TD ***
Wingspan: 27-32mm
Forewing: 15-18mm
Food Plant: Heather (Calluna).
Last Recorded Year: 2025
Last Recorded By – Dan Martin
Last Recorded General Area – Matlock

Selected Images:  Photo by kind permission of Rowan Wakefield – during the day in a limestone dale, Buxton – 08/07/2021



Temporal Distribution Chart
Adults: (between 2001 - 2025)
(click legend below to show/hide datasets)

Distribution Map for Charissa obscurata

Found 33 records
    ↳ from 2026+
    ↳ 1 from 2020 - 2025
    ↳ 32 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 – Charissa obscurata

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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: Charissa obscurata
( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )

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

First/Last Recorded Dates: Charissa obscurata
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: Charissa obscurata
( All data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )
Annual Growth Rate (AGR): Charissa obscurata
AGR: -2.85%   |   Total % Change: -50%

Hectad (10kmx10km) Coverage: Charissa obscurata
( data includes both Larvae and Adult Stages )

Flight Periods – Indicative –vs– Recorded Data
Charissa obscurata

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 - Charissa obscurata – 33 records available

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

Site NameTetradDateCountStageRecorderSourceRecordKey
Matlock, DerbyshireSK26V08/08/20251adultDaniel Martinvc57_irecords_extractiBRC44277446
Hoe Grange QuarrySK25I20/07/20191adultSteve Orridge & Ray Walkervc57_irecords_extractiBRC35097810
Derbyshire, UKSK25I20/07/20181AdultOrridge, Stevevc57_irecords_extractiBRC23668684
Hoe Grange QuarrySK25I19/07/20186adultSteve Orridge & Ray Walkervc57_irecords_extractiBRC49168574
Millers Dale (quarry)SK17G15/07/20171AdultDave Budworth;D.A. Clarke;N. Beasley;N. ELGAR;P. Pvc57_danes_bc_dataLC000334001WQCWS
Station Quarry, Chee DaleSK17G25/07/20163AdultSteve Orridge;S.H. Hindvc57_danes_bc_dataLC000334001WPQW0
Hartington (station quarry)SK16K01/08/20151AdultS. Bellvc57_danes_bc_dataLC000334001WPL15
Hartington (station quarry)SK16K01/08/20151AdultS. Bellvc57_danes_bc_dataLC000334001WPL1O
DovedaleSK15K29/08/20111AdultDavid Grundyvc57_danes_bc_dataLC000334001OL420
DovedaleSK15K01/08/201110AdultDavid Grundyvc57_danes_bc_dataLC000334001OJSXH
DovedaleSK15K01/08/20113AdultDavid Grundyvc57_danes_bc_dataLC000334001OJSY3
DovedaleSK15K01/08/20111AdultDavid Grundyvc57_danes_bc_dataLC000334001OL2ZC
DovedaleSK15K01/08/20116AdultDavid Grundyvc57_danes_bc_dataLC000334001OLFNV
DovedaleSK15K01/08/20111AdultDavid Grundyvc57_danes_bc_dataLC000334001OLFPD
DovedaleSK15K01/08/20112AdultDavid Grundyvc57_danes_bc_dataLC000334001OLFPQ
DovedaleSK15K11/07/20111AdultM.J. Dalevc57_danes_bc_dataLC000334001OJSGM
DovedaleSK15K19/09/20101AdultDavid Grundyvc57_danes_bc_dataLC000334001OKXZV
DovedaleSK15K30/07/20104AdultDavid Grundyvc57_danes_bc_dataLC000334001OK4MT
DovedaleSK15K30/07/20103AdultDavid Grundyvc57_danes_bc_dataLC000334001OK4N8
DovedaleSK15K30/07/20101AdultM.J. Dalevc57_danes_bc_dataLC000334001OKW5W
DovedaleSK15K30/07/20101AdultDavid Grundyvc57_danes_bc_dataLC000334001OKW6F
Dovedale (stepping stones)SK15K30/07/20101AdultDavid Grundyvc57_danes_bc_dataLC000334001OKW6W
DovedaleSK15K25/07/20101AdultDavid Grundyvc57_danes_bc_dataLC000334001OKDVX
DovedaleSK15K25/07/20101AdultDavid Grundyvc57_danes_bc_dataLC000334001OLFKI
DovedaleSK15K25/07/20103AdultDavid Grundyvc57_danes_bc_dataLC000334001OLFL5
Clough Wood,Darley DaleSK26K08/08/20091AdultB.L. Stathamvc57_danes_bc_dataLC000334001OKPGH
DovedaleSK15K05/07/20091AdultDavid Grundy;M.J. Dalevc57_danes_bc_dataLC000334001OK1YD
DovedaleSK15K05/07/20091AdultDavid Grundy;M.J. Dalevc57_danes_bc_dataLC000334001OK1ZH
DovedaleSK15K05/07/20092AdultDavid Grundy;M.J. Dalevc57_danes_bc_dataLC000334001OKFEA
DovedaleSK15K05/07/20091AdultDavid Grundy;M.J. Dalevc57_danes_bc_dataLC000334001OKFFI
DovedaleSK15K05/07/20091AdultDavid Grundy;M.J. Dalevc57_danes_bc_dataLC000334001OKOMR
Buxton (Station Quarry)SK17G21/07/20074AdultS.G. Pricevc57_danes_bc_dataLC000334001OKHS4
Bonsall Moor, BonsallSK25T28/07/20012AdultB.L. Stathamvc57_danes_bc_dataLC000334001OHOIT

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