Xylocampa areola
In 3 days ~20% in a week ~40%
The Early Grey (Xylocampa areola) is a species of moth of the family Noctuidae. It is found in Europe and Morocco. The wingspan is 32–40 mm. Seitz describes it - Forewing pale grey varied with darker, darkest in median and marginal areas; veins black-speckled; a black streak from base on submedian fold, with a whitish patch above it; the two lines black, approximating below median, conversely edged with white; orbicular and reniform stigmata large, 8-shaped, pale grey, with darker centres, the orbicular projecting obliquely below median and connected there with reniform; submarginal line white, serrate, followed by a row of black marginal lunules; fringe deep, grey mottled with paler; hindwing pale grey, the cell spot, veins, and outer line darker: in the form suffusa Tutt the dark median area below the stigmata becomes blackish and forms with the black streak from base a curved black marking. The larva is dull pinkish ochreous, with a paler dorsal line and dark brown blotches on dorsum on segments 7 and 8; the 11th segment is slightly humped.
The moth flies from February to May depending on the location. The larvae feed on honeysuckle (Lonicera species). Wikipedia →
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Snowdonia National Park | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | |
| 2 | Wadden Sea National Park | 🇩🇪 Germany | |
| 3 | Cévennes National Park | 🇫🇷 France |
| # | City | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | London | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | |
| 2 | Liverpool | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | |
| 3 | Porto | 🇵🇹 Portugal | |
| 4 | Birmingham | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | |
| 5 | Manchester | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom |
With luck
About 10% of wildlife watchers report an Early Grey sighting in Birmingham on a given day, based on 21 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data. It is the 321st most-seen of the 811 insects we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 20%, and over a week to about 40%, if each day is a fresh chance.
March and April
In those months about 10% of wildlife watchers report an Early Grey in Birmingham on a given day, against under 5% in May to February, the lowest months.
Between 6 and 9 am
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Early Grey sightings with a recorded time, and about 7 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.
Among the best
Of the 5 cities where we can rate Early Grey sightings, Birmingham ranks 4th at about 10%, level with the leaders once rounded. The best odds are in London (United Kingdom, about 10%), Liverpool (United Kingdom, about 10%) and Porto (Portugal, about 10%).
Same family: Noctuidae
The closest relatives of the Early Grey that you can see in Birmingham (family Noctuidae, Cutworm Moths and Allies) are Large Yellow Underwing (about 20%), Silver Υ (about 20%) and Knot Grass Moth (about 20%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Early Grey is recorded against all the insects logged in Birmingham (21 verified sightings), 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.
