Marbled Beauty

Marbled Beauty

Bryophila domestica

Daily sighting probability ~30% · Possible
at Liverpool

In 3 days ~60% in a week ~90%

150 Verified sightings at Liverpool
40 In all 2 parks From 2019 to 2026
August Best month
☀️🌙 Day & Night When it's spotted

About the Marbled Beauty

The marbled beauty (Cryphia domestica) is a moth of the family Noctuidae. The species was first described by Johann Siegfried Hufnagel in 1766. It is an abundant species throughout most of Europe east to the Urals, and it is probably the most common lichenivorous moth of the Palearctic realm.

This is quite a small species with a wingspan of 22–30 mm. The forewings are white with dark grey cryptic markings, giving excellent camouflage against the lichens on which the eggs are laid. The intensity of the markings vary considerably, with darker individuals predominating in urban areas, an example of industrial melanism. A significant proportion of individuals also have orange or yellow markings. The hindwings are whitish with a broad grey band at the margin. The adults fly at night in July and August [1] and are attracted to light.

It is found across Europe, where it occurs as far south as Sicily and in the north to Gotland. The eastern distribution is uncertain but it may reach central Asia. It rises over 2000 metres above sea level in the Alps. Forewing cream white with slaty-grey markings; orbicular and claviform (club shaped) stigmata... Wikipedia →

Global Distribution

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Daily sighting probability
1 Pyrénées National Park 🇫🇷 France
~10%
2 Wadden Sea National Park 🇩🇪 Germany
<5%

Cities Where Found

# City Country Daily sighting probability
1 Liverpool 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
~30%
2 Manchester 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
~10%
3 Birmingham 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
~10%
4 London 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
~10%
5 Leeds 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
~10%
6 Vienna 🇦🇹 Austria
<5%

Before you go

What are the chances of seeing a Marbled Beauty in Liverpool?

Possible

About 30% of wildlife watchers report a Marbled Beauty sighting in Liverpool on a given day, based on 150 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data. It is the 60th most-seen of the 632 insects we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 60%, and over a week to about 90%, if each day is a fresh chance.

When is the best time to see a Marbled Beauty in Liverpool?

July and August

In those months about 50% of wildlife watchers report a Marbled Beauty in Liverpool on a given day, against under 5% in October to May, the lowest months.

What time of day is best to see a Marbled Beauty?

Between 10 pm and 1 am

Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Marbled Beauty 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.

Is Liverpool the best place to see a Marbled Beauty?

Yes

Of the 6 cities where we can rate Marbled Beauty sightings, Liverpool has the highest daily chance: about 30%. Next come Manchester (United Kingdom, about 10%) and Birmingham (United Kingdom, about 10%).

Which relatives of the Marbled Beauty live in Liverpool?

Same family: Noctuidae

The closest relatives of the Marbled Beauty that you can see in Liverpool (family Noctuidae, Cutworm Moths and Allies) are Large Yellow Underwing (about 50%), Silver Υ (about 40%) and Heart And Dart (about 40%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.

Where does the Marbled Beauty sighting chance come from?

GBIF citizen-science records

It is estimated from how often the Marbled Beauty is recorded against all the insects logged in Liverpool (150 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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