Selenia tetralunaria
In 3 days ~10%
The purple thorn (Selenia tetralunaria) is a moth of the family Geometridae. The species was first described by Johann Siegfried Hufnagel in 1767. It is a species of both Northern Europe and Central Europe. It has a scattered distribution in Britain but is absent from Ireland.
This species is dark purplish brown, paler towards the termen, with a dark spot at the apex of the forewing. Both wings are marked with a comma-shaped white mark. The margins of the wings are angular, giving the species a distinctive shape. Two broods are produced each year and they differ considerably in size and colour. Adults of the spring brood, which fly in April and May, have a wingspan of 46–52 mm. Moths of the summer brood, flying in July and August,[1] are smaller (wingspan 44–46 mm) and darker. The caterpillar is reddish brown, mottled with darker brown, and with pale greyish.
The species flies at night and is attracted to light. The caterpillar feeds on a variety of trees and shrubs (see list below). The species overwinters as a pupa. Wikipedia →
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Snowdonia National Park | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | |
| 2 | Bavarian Forest National Park | 🇩🇪 Germany | |
| 3 | Pyrénées National Park | 🇫🇷 France | |
| 4 | Wadden Sea National Park | 🇩🇪 Germany |
Rare
Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Purple Thorn sighting in Moscow on a given day, based on 5 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data. It is the 992nd most-seen of the 1111 insects we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 10%, if each day is a fresh chance.
Any time of year
In every month with enough records, under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Purple Thorn in Moscow on a given day, so our monthly data shows no clear season.
Between 7 and 10 am
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Purple Thorn 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.
Among the best
Of the 2 cities where we can rate Purple Thorn sightings, Moscow ranks 2nd at under 5%, level with the leaders once rounded. The best odds are in London (United Kingdom, under 5%).
Same family: Geometridae
The closest relatives of the Purple Thorn that you can see in Moscow (family Geometridae, Geometer Moths) are Winter Moth (about 10%), Common Carpet Moth (about 10%) and Northern Winter Moth (about 10%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Purple Thorn is recorded against all the insects logged in Moscow (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.
