Description: Wingspan 28-36mm. An extremely variable species throughout its range. Adults are generally reddish grey with a well-defined, usually brown, median band. In most specimens the band is not edged with white as seen in the Spruce Carpet Thera britannica. From the end of April to early November.

Irish Distribution: Widespread in southern counties and more frequently encountered than the closely related Pine Carpet T. firmata. Elsewhere, scarce especially north of Lough Neagh although it has been recorded on Rathlin Island. It probably occurs more widely than current records indicate given the widespread abundance of conifer plantations in the northern regions.

Ecology: A species associated normally with conifer plantations. Adults come frequently to light in moderate numbers. The larvae feed on Scot's Pine Pinus sylvestris, Norway Spruce Picea abies and probably other species of conifer. It spends the winter months as a larva.

Key Identification Features:

• Central band usually darker than base colour
• No white marginal edge to the band
• Hindwings dark greyish brown

Distribution Map from NBN: Thera obeliscata at National Biodiversity Network mapping facility, data for UK.

iNaturalist: Thera obeliscata at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.