Micropterix calthella
In 3 days ~10% in a week ~20%
Micropterix calthella, the marsh marigold moth, is a species of moth belonging to the family Micropterigidae. It is found in damp habitats throughout Europe (except for the far south) and is also distributed eastwards to central Siberia. It was first described by Carl Linnaeus in 1761 as Phalaena calthella.
Pupae are brown with dark oculi and paler abdominal segments. Adults are small, with a forewing length of up to 4.6 millimetres (0.18 in) and a wingspan of 8–10 millimetres (0.31–0.39 in). The species is more plainly marked than many other European species of Micropterix, and has dark bronze-coloured (or pale shining bronzy-golden) forewings with a purple sheen in places and distinctive purple bases. The hindwings are rather dark bronzy-grey. The head is deep ferruginous-yellow.
Eggs are laid amongst vegetation on the soil surface. They are translucent white turning grey, prior to hatching. The larvae feed on tender, young growth of herbacaeous plants and pupate in a tough, silken cocoon. Like other members of the family, Micropterix calthella has functional jaws in its imaginal stage. As adult, it feeds on pollen grains from a wide variety of plants... Wikipedia →
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Snowdonia National Park | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom |
More parks will be added in future updates.
| # | City | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Moscow | 🇷🇺 Russia | |
| 2 | Saint Petersburg | 🇷🇺 Russia |
Rare
Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Marsh Marigold Moth sighting in Saint Petersburg on a given day, based on 6 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data. It is the 377th most-seen of the 448 insects we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 10%, and over a week to about 20%, if each day is a fresh chance.
Any time of year
In every month with enough records, under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Marsh Marigold Moth in Saint Petersburg on a given day, so our monthly data shows no clear season.
Between 3 and 6 pm
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Marsh Marigold Moth sightings with a recorded time, and nearly all of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.
Among the best
Of the 2 cities where we can rate Marsh Marigold Moth sightings, Saint Petersburg ranks 2nd at under 5%, level with the leaders once rounded. The best odds are in Moscow (Russia, under 5%).
Same order: Lepidoptera
The closest relatives of the Marsh Marigold Moth that you can see in Saint Petersburg (order Lepidoptera, Butterflies and Moths) are Small Tortoiseshell (about 10%), European Peacock Butterfly (about 10%) and Red Admiral (about 10%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Marsh Marigold Moth is recorded against all the insects logged in Saint Petersburg (6 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.
