Aethalura punctulata
In 3 days ~10% in a week ~30%
Aethalura punctulata, the grey birch, is a moth of the family Geometridae. The species is found in Europe and then east, as far as western Siberia and the Caucasus.This species prefers sparse alder-ash-floodplain forests on moist to wet locations. Although it is only locally distributed in Central Europe, it is usually common in these biotopes. It occurs from the plains to the middle mountain regions. In the Alps it rises up to 1600 m.
The wingspan is 30–35 mm. The upperside forewings wings are ash to light brownish gray. Darkened and light forms occur. The banding is also variable. Three black crossbars are strong and usually reach the front edge. According to the variability of colour and bars several formæ have been described.
The larva is brownish, greenish, greenish-grey or violet-brown. The longitudinal lines and the incisions of the segments are usually yellowish or whitish, often with enlarged stains. The longitudinal lines are often interrupted or dissolved to elongated points.
The pupa is reddish-brown to dark reddish-brown. The cremaster is blunt-conical. The moths flies from March to July depending on the location. The caterpillars feed on birch. Wikipedia →
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Snowdonia National Park | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | |
| 2 | Bavarian Forest National Park | 🇩🇪 Germany | |
| 3 | Wadden Sea National Park | 🇩🇪 Germany |
Rare
Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Grey Birch Moth sighting in Bavarian Forest National Park on a given day, based on 5 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 964th most-seen of the 1115 insects we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 10%, and over a week to about 30%, if each day is a fresh chance.
April and May
In those months about 10% of wildlife watchers report a Grey Birch Moth in Bavarian Forest National Park on a given day, against under 5% in June to March, the lowest months.
Between 10 pm and 1 am
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Grey Birch Moth sightings with a recorded time, and about half of them come between 6 pm and 6 am: it is seen both by day and at night.
2nd of 3
Of the 3 parks where we can rate Grey Birch Moth sightings, Bavarian Forest National Park ranks 2nd at under 5%. The best odds are in Snowdonia National Park (United Kingdom, about 10%).
Same family: Geometridae
The closest relatives of the Grey Birch Moth that you can see in Bavarian Forest National Park (family Geometridae, Geometer Moths) are Common Heath (about 20%), Latticed Heath (about 20%) and Yellow Shell Moth (about 20%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Grey Birch Moth is recorded against all the insects logged in Bavarian Forest National Park (5 verified sightings from 2019 to 2026), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.
