Sesia apiformis
In 3 days ~10% 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 |
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More parks will be added in future updates.
Rare
Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Hornet Moth sighting in Kyiv on a given day, based on 7 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data. It is the 527th most-seen of the 753 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
In that month about 10% of wildlife watchers report a Hornet Moth in Kyiv on a given day, against under 5% in July to May, the lowest months. That is one of Kyiv's wettest months, with about 75 mm of rain against 40 mm in April.
4th of 9
Of the 9 cities where we can rate Hornet Moth sightings, Kyiv ranks 4th at under 5%. The best odds are in Helsinki (Finland, about 10%), Warsaw (Poland, about 10%) and Vienna (Austria, under 5%).
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Hornet Moth is recorded against all the insects logged in Kyiv (7 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.
