Myelois circumvoluta
In 3 days ~10% in a week ~30%
Myelois circumvoluta, the thistle ermine, is a small moth species of the family Pyralidae. It is found in Europe. This pyralid has a pattern of black dots on its whitish forewings, resembling many ermine moths (family Yponomeutidae). Among the Lepidoptera, the pyralids and the ermine moths are not closely related, however: the latter are basal Ditrysia, while the former belong to the much more advanced Obtectomera.
The wingspan is 27–33 millimetres (1.1–1.3 in). The moth flies in one generation in late spring to early summer, e.g. from the end of May to June in Belgium and the Netherlands. The caterpillars feed on Cardueae (Cynareae) thistles – greater burdock (Arctium lappa), cotton thistle (Onopordum acanthium), and Carduus and Cirsium species. Wikipedia →
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mercantour National Park | 🇫🇷 France | |
| 2 | Pyrénées National Park | 🇫🇷 France |
Rare
Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Thistle Ermine sighting in Helsinki on a given day, based on 11 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data. It is the 445th 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.
June and July
In those months about 10% of wildlife watchers report a Thistle Ermine in Helsinki on a given day, against under 5% in August to May, the lowest months.
Between 10 pm and 1 am
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Thistle Ermine sightings with a recorded time, and about 6 in 10 of them come between 6 pm and 6 am: it is seen both by day and at night.
Yes
Of the 2 cities where we can rate Thistle Ermine sightings, Helsinki has the highest daily chance: under 5%. Next come Moscow (Russia, under 5%).
Same family: Pyralidae
The closest relatives of the Thistle Ermine that you can see in Helsinki (family Pyralidae, Pyralid Snout Moths) are Bee Moth (about 10%), Large Tabby (about 10%) and Clover Hayworm Moth (about 10%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Thistle Ermine is recorded against all the insects logged in Helsinki (11 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.
