Species Details

ABH: 70.047

BF: 1720

Family: Geometridae

Subfamily: Larentiinae

Taxon: Nycterosea obstipata

Authority: (Fabricius, 1794)

Vernacular: Gem

Account: Immigrant from southern Europe, appearing mainly in southern Britain, with occasional records north to the Orkneys, in some years arriving in sufficient numbers to breed Highly sexually dimorphic. Larva feeds on the leaves of various herbaceous plants, although the exact plant species utilised in the United Kingdom is unknown, but unable to over-winter in significant numbers.

Accounts provided by and used with the kind permission of Mike Wall, Hampshire County Moth Recorder. These will in due course be gradually replaced with species accounts with a Surrey context.

Wingspan: 18 — 21 mm

Surrey Flight Period: 11 May (1998) — 8 Dec (1953)

The flight period of overwintering adults are not given. See the flight chart below the distribution map.

Foodplant:

Foodplant accounts are from the HOSTS database — Natural History Museum, London, UK. (CC0).

Status: Migrant

UK BAP:

WCA:

Click here to view the full geology map of Surrey.

Verification Grade: 1 — Relatively easily identified 👌

Further Information: https://www.ukmoths.org.uk/species/nycterosea-obstipata/

Statistics

* Based on adult records only.

Records: 189

Individuals: 122

Earliest Year: 1899

Latest Year: 2023

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