Amphipyra tragopoginis
In 3 days ~40% in a week ~70%
The mouse moth (Amphipyra tragopoginis) is a moth of the family Noctuidae. It is a widespread species with a Holarctic distribution. Europe (except the extreme north, and not occurring in the south of Spain, Sicily, or the Balkans); also in Armenia, Asia Minor, Syria, Iran, Western Siberia, Kashmir (extending thence into Punjab). Recently introduced in Canada and North America.
This is a rather drab but distinctive species. The forewings are uniform dark brown with three blackish spots arranged in a triangle. The hindwings are buffish, darker towards the margins. The wingspan is 32–40 mm. The common name derives from the species' habit of scuttling away on foot when disturbed rather than flying. Despite this, it can fly strongly and is attracted to light, sugar and nectar-rich flowers. In the British Isles, the adult is active from July to September.
Forewing dull brown, dusted with paler scales, varying from pale to blackish brown; submarginal line only visible, indicated by a paler tinge preceded by a darker shade; orbicular stigma a blackish dot; reniform represented by two, one above the other, at end of cell; hindwing rufous fuscous, paler... Wikipedia →
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gros Morne National Park | 🇨🇦 Canada | |
| 2 | Wadden Sea National Park | 🇩🇪 Germany |
| # | City | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Liverpool | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | |
| 2 | Edmonton | 🇨🇦 Canada | |
| 3 | Manchester | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | |
| 4 | Copenhagen | 🇩🇰 Denmark | |
| 5 | Prague | 🇨🇿 Czechia | |
| 6 | Helsinki | 🇫🇮 Finland | |
| 7 | Birmingham | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | |
| 8 | Berlin | 🇩🇪 Germany | |
| 9 | London | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | |
| 10 | Montreal | 🇨🇦 Canada |
With luck
About 10% of wildlife watchers report a Mouse Moth sighting in Liverpool on a given day, based on 60 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data. It is the 136th most-seen of the 632 insects we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 40%, and over a week to about 70%, if each day is a fresh chance.
August and September
In those months about 40% of wildlife watchers report a Mouse Moth in Liverpool on a given day, against under 5% in November to July, the lowest months.
Between 8 and 11 am
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Mouse Moth sightings with a recorded time, and about 9 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.
Yes
Of the 13 cities where we can rate Mouse Moth sightings, Liverpool has the highest daily chance: about 10%. Next come Edmonton (Canada, under 5%) and Manchester (United Kingdom, under 5%).
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Mouse Moth is recorded against all the insects logged in Liverpool (60 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.
