Lilac Leafminer Moth

Lilac Leafminer Moth

Gracillaria syringella

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
at Helsinki

In 3 days ~10% in a week ~30%

15 Verified sightings at Helsinki
6 In 1 park From 2019 to 2026
August Best month
☀️🌙 Day & Night When it's spotted

About the Lilac Leafminer Moth

Gracillaria syringella (lilac leafminer or privet leafminer) is a moth of the family Gracillariidae. It is found in Europe. It has been introduced in North America. The wingspan is 10–13 mm. The forewings are light yellowbrownish, towards base with whitish and dark fuscous strigulae; an oblique interrupted fascia about 1/4, a somewhat angulated

median fascia (sometimes followed by a small costal spot), a tornal spot, a spot on costa beyond, and costal and terminal dots near apex white, black-margined; a blackish discal suffusion beyond middle. Hindwings are rather dark grey.The larva is whitish, sometimes greenish-tinged; dorsal line darker green; head brownish-tinged.

The moth flies in May and again in July depending on the location. The caterpillars feed on ash (Fraxinus), privet (Ligustrum) and lilac (Syringa) Wikipedia →

Global Distribution

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Daily sighting probability
1 Wadden Sea National Park 🇩🇪 Germany
<5%

More parks will be added in future updates.

Cities Where Found

# City Country Daily sighting probability
1 Liverpool 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
~10%
2 Helsinki 🇫🇮 Finland
<5%
3 Birmingham 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
<5%
4 London 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
<5%
5 Seattle 🇺🇸 United States
<5%

Before you go

What are the chances of seeing a Lilac Leafminer Moth in Helsinki?

Rare

Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Lilac Leafminer Moth sighting in Helsinki on a given day, based on 15 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data. It is the 374th most-seen of the 838 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.

When is the best time to see a Lilac Leafminer Moth in Helsinki?

July and August

In those months about 10% of wildlife watchers report a Lilac Leafminer Moth in Helsinki on a given day, against under 5% in September to June, the lowest months.

What time of day is best to see a Lilac Leafminer Moth?

Between 10 am and 1 pm

Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Lilac Leafminer Moth sightings with a recorded time, and about half of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is seen both by day and at night.

Is Helsinki the best place to see a Lilac Leafminer Moth?

2nd of 5

Of the 5 cities where we can rate Lilac Leafminer Moth sightings, Helsinki ranks 2nd at under 5%. The best odds are in Liverpool (United Kingdom, about 10%).

Which relatives of the Lilac Leafminer Moth live in Helsinki?

Same family: Gracillariidae

The closest relatives of the Lilac Leafminer Moth that you can see in Helsinki (family Gracillariidae, Leaf Blotch Miner Moths) are Horse-Chestnut Leafminer (about 10%) and Phyllocnistis labyrinthella (about 10%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.

Where does the Lilac Leafminer Moth sighting chance come from?

GBIF citizen-science records

It is estimated from how often the Lilac Leafminer Moth is recorded against all the insects logged in Helsinki (15 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.

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