Xestia stigmatica
In 3 days ~10% in a week ~30%
Xestia stigmatica, the square-spotted clay, is a moth of the family Noctuidae. It is found in most of Europe, Transcaucasia, Caucasus, Kazakhstan, northern Turkey and northern Iran. The wingspan is 37–44 mm. Distinguished from other Xestia species by the broad forewing coloured greyish dark brown (sometimes purple tinted) and the irregular broad dark band between the wavy line and the outer cross line.
Adults are on wing from in August. The larvae feed on a variety of plants such as Rubus fruticosus, Urtica dioica, Prunus spinosa, Primula and Betula. Wikipedia →
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bavarian Forest National Park | 🇩🇪 Germany | |
| 2 | Pyrénées National Park | 🇫🇷 France |
Rare
Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Square-Spotted Clay 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.
August
In that month about 10% of wildlife watchers report a Square-Spotted Clay in Bavarian Forest National Park on a given day, against under 5% in September to July, the lowest months.
Between 9 pm and midnight
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Square-Spotted Clay sightings with a recorded time, and about 8 in 10 of them come between 6 pm and 6 am: it is mostly seen at night.
Yes
Of the 2 parks where we can rate Square-Spotted Clay sightings, Bavarian Forest National Park has the highest daily chance: under 5%. Next come Pyrénées National Park (France, under 5%).
Same genus: Xestia
The closest relatives of the Square-Spotted Clay that you can see in Bavarian Forest National Park (genus Xestia) are Setaceous Hebrew Character (about 10%), Double Square-Spot (about 10%) and Square-Spot Rustic (about 10%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Square-Spotted Clay 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.
