Eriogaster lanestris
In 3 days ~30% in a week ~60%
Eriogaster lanestris, commonly known as the small eggar, is a moth of the family Lasiocampidae that is found across the Palearctic. Unlike many other members of the Lasiocampidae, the small eggar is a social insect. Historically, only eusocial insects like ants, bees, and termites were thought to exhibit complex social organization and communication systems. However, research since the late 20th century has found that E. lanestris, among a number of other phylogenetically related moth and butterfly species, demonstrates social behaviors as well. Larvae spend nearly their entire development in colonies of about 200 individuals, and this grouped social structure offers a number of benefits, from thermoregulation to increased foraging success.
The small eggar population has been in decline since the 1970s. Landscaping practices like hedgerow cutting and intensive mowing destroy habitats and damage cocoons during pupation, leading to scattered populations and increased rarity.
Small eggar moths have a wingspan of 30–40 millimeters, and females are generally larger than males. Male and female adults have a gray-brown to reddish coloration with white spotting on their upper... Wikipedia →
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cévennes National Park | 🇫🇷 France | |
| 2 | Pyrénées National Park | 🇫🇷 France |
With luck
About 10% of wildlife watchers report a Small Eggar sighting in Cévennes National Park on a given day, based on 42 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 153rd most-seen of the 996 insects we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 30%, and over a week to about 60%, if each day is a fresh chance.
May
In that month about 30% of wildlife watchers report a Small Eggar in Cévennes National Park on a given day, against under 5% in July to April, the lowest months.
Between 10 am and 1 pm
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Small Eggar sightings with a recorded time, and about 9 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.
Yes
Of the 2 parks where we can rate Small Eggar sightings, Cévennes National Park has the highest daily chance: about 10%. Next come Pyrénées National Park (France, under 5%).
Same family: Lasiocampidae
The closest relatives of the Small Eggar that you can see in Cévennes National Park (family Lasiocampidae, Lappet Moths) are Fox Moth (about 20%), Grass Eggar (about 10%) and Oak Eggar (about 10%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Small Eggar is recorded against all the insects logged in Cévennes National Park (42 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.
