Transalpine Burnet Moth

Transalpine Burnet Moth

Zygaena transalpina

Daily sighting probability ~30% · Possible
at Mercantour National Park

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

43 Verified sightings at Mercantour National Park From 2019 to 2026
224 In all 7 parks
August Best month
☀️ Diurnal When it's spotted

About the Transalpine Burnet Moth

Zygaena transalpina is a moth of the family Zygaenidae. This moth occurs in warm, dry climates, particularly on dry meadows, but also on flowering grasslands at higher elevations. Though the form astragali extends beyond 50° latitude, being still common near Mombach (Mainz), Darmstadt, etc. Southern Europe, especially Italy, must be considered the principal locality of the species, the forms here flying occurring from May to July in really surprising numbers; maritima flies in great abundance even in dull weather and till nightfall on the southern slopes of the Riviera, near Genoa, Pegli, Savona, etc., transalpina being likewise very common in the southern valleys of the Alps of Ticino, extending into the North Italian plains.

The wingspan of Zygaena transalpina can reach about 29–35 millimetres (1.1–1.4 in). The forewings... Wikipedia →

Global Distribution

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Daily sighting probability
1 Mercantour National Park 🇫🇷 France
~30%
2 Vanoise National Park 🇫🇷 France
~30%
3 Triglav National Park 🇸🇮 Slovenia
~20%
4 Ecrins National Park 🇫🇷 France
~20%
5 Hohe Tauern National Park 🇦🇹 Austria
~20%
6 Pyrénées National Park 🇫🇷 France
~10%
7 Cévennes National Park 🇫🇷 France
~10%

Before you go

What are the chances of seeing a Transalpine Burnet Moth in Mercantour National Park?

Possible

About 30% of wildlife watchers report a Transalpine Burnet Moth sighting in Mercantour National Park on a given day, based on 43 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 46th most-seen of the 412 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 Transalpine Burnet Moth in Mercantour National Park?

July and August

In those months about 40% of wildlife watchers report a Transalpine Burnet Moth in Mercantour National Park on a given day, against under 5% in January–May and October–November, the lowest months. Those are among Mercantour National Park's driest months, with about 55 mm of rain a month against 140 mm in October.

What time of day is best to see a Transalpine Burnet Moth?

Between 10 am and 1 pm

Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Transalpine Burnet 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.

Is Mercantour National Park the best place to see a Transalpine Burnet Moth?

Yes

Of the 7 parks where we can rate Transalpine Burnet Moth sightings, Mercantour National Park has the highest daily chance: about 30%. Next come Vanoise National Park (France, about 30%) and Triglav National Park (Slovenia, about 20%).

Where does the Transalpine Burnet Moth sighting chance come from?

GBIF citizen-science records

It is estimated from how often the Transalpine Burnet Moth is recorded against all the insects logged in Mercantour National Park (43 verified sightings from 2019 to 2026), 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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