Marbled Carpet Moth

Marbled Carpet Moth

Dysstroma truncata

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
at Helsinki

In 3 days ~10% in a week ~20%

5 Verified sightings at Helsinki
116 In all 6 parks From 2019 to 2026
July Best month
☀️🌙 Day & Night When it's spotted

About the Marbled Carpet Moth

The common marbled carpet (Dysstroma truncata) is a moth of the family Geometridae. It is sometimes placed in the genus Chloroclysta. It is very common throughout the Palearctic region and the Near East. The species was first described by Johann Siegfried Hufnagel in 1767.

This is one of the most variable of the geometrids both in size (wingspan 32–39 mm) and colour. The basal and terminal areas of the forewings are marked with fascia separated by a large plain area in the middle, but the colouration of all these areas is confusingly variable from white to black with various grey, brown and reddish tones in between. The hindwings, though, are always pale grey marked with faint fascia. Some forms closely resemble Dysstroma citrata.

One or two broods are produced each year and the adults can be seen in any month from May to November.[1] The species flies at night and is attracted to light. It is also attracted to nectar-rich flowers and sugary foods which is fairly unusual for the family.

The larva is slender and green, usually with reddish stripes. It has been recorded feeding on a wide range of plants (see list below). The species overwinters as a larva. ^ The flight season refers to the British Isles. This may vary in other parts of the range. Wikipedia →

Global Distribution

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Daily sighting probability
1 Snowdonia National Park 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
~20%
2 Cairngorms National Park 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
~10%
3 Vanoise National Park 🇫🇷 France
~10%
4 Bavarian Forest National Park 🇩🇪 Germany
~10%
5 Wadden Sea National Park 🇩🇪 Germany
~10%
6 Pyrénées National Park 🇫🇷 France
<5%

Cities Where Found

# City Country Daily sighting probability
1 Liverpool 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
~30%
2 Birmingham 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
~10%
3 London 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
~10%
4 Manchester 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
~10%
5 Hamburg 🇩🇪 Germany
<5%
6 Copenhagen 🇩🇰 Denmark
<5%
7 Helsinki 🇫🇮 Finland
<5%
8 Paris 🇫🇷 France
<5%
9 Moscow 🇷🇺 Russia
<5%

Before you go

What are the chances of seeing a Marbled Carpet Moth in Helsinki?

Rare

Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Marbled Carpet Moth sighting in Helsinki on a given day, based on 5 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data. It is the 732nd 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 20%, if each day is a fresh chance.

When is the best time to see a Marbled Carpet Moth in Helsinki?

July

In that month about 10% of wildlife watchers report a Marbled Carpet Moth in Helsinki on a given day, against under 5% in August to June, the lowest months.

What time of day is best to see a Marbled Carpet Moth?

Between 6 and 9 am

Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Marbled Carpet Moth sightings with a recorded time, and about 6 in 10 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 Marbled Carpet Moth?

7th of 9

Of the 9 cities where we can rate Marbled Carpet Moth sightings, Helsinki ranks 7th at under 5%. The best odds are in Liverpool (United Kingdom, about 30%), Birmingham (United Kingdom, about 10%) and London (United Kingdom, about 10%).

Where does the Marbled Carpet Moth sighting chance come from?

GBIF citizen-science records

It is estimated from how often the Marbled Carpet Moth is recorded against all the insects logged in Helsinki (5 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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