Sesia apiformis
In 3 days ~20% in a week ~30%
The hornet moth or hornet clearwing (Sesia apiformis) is a large moth native to Europe and the Middle East and has been introduced to North America. Its protective coloration is an example of Batesian mimicry, as its similarity to a hornet makes it unappealing to predators. The hornet moth has been linked to the large dieback of poplar trees across Europe because its larvae bore into the trunk of the tree before re-emerging as adults.
Sesia apiformis is found across mainland Europe, Great Britain, and in parts of the Middle East. It has also recently been introduced to America and Canada. Adult hornet moths are often found in open habitat such as parks, golf courses, and marshy areas. Females prefer to lay eggs on old or isolated trees, especially trees surrounded by vegetation.
Larvae feed on host trees of several poplar species including Populus tremula and Populus nigra as well as Salix caprea. The moth also prefers to feed around trees surrounded by heavy vegetation. It was found that trees near this heavy vegetation suffered from a lot more infestation than those without the basal vegetation. Wikipedia →
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|
More parks will be added in future updates.
With luck
About 10% of wildlife watchers report a Hornet Moth sighting in Helsinki on a given day, based on 20 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data. It is the 307th most-seen of the 838 insects we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 20%, and over a week to about 30%, if each day is a fresh chance.
July
In that month about 10% of wildlife watchers report a Hornet Moth in Helsinki on a given day, against under 5% in August to June, the lowest months.
Yes
Of the 9 cities where we can rate Hornet Moth sightings, Helsinki has the highest daily chance: about 10%. Next come Warsaw (Poland, about 10%) and Vienna (Austria, under 5%).
Same order: Lepidoptera
The closest relatives of the Hornet Moth that you can see in Helsinki (order Lepidoptera, Butterflies and Moths) are Red Admiral (about 30%), Small Tortoiseshell (about 30%) and Green-Veined White (about 30%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Hornet Moth is recorded against all the insects logged in Helsinki (20 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.
