Xylocampa areola
In 3 days ~30% in a week ~50%
The Early Grey (Xylocampa areola) is a species of moth of the family Noctuidae. It is found in Europe and Morocco. The wingspan is 32–40 mm. Seitz describes it - Forewing pale grey varied with darker, darkest in median and marginal areas; veins black-speckled; a black streak from base on submedian fold, with a whitish patch above it; the two lines black, approximating below median, conversely edged with white; orbicular and reniform stigmata large, 8-shaped, pale grey, with darker centres, the orbicular projecting obliquely below median and connected there with reniform; submarginal line white, serrate, followed by a row of black marginal lunules; fringe deep, grey mottled with paler; hindwing pale grey, the cell spot, veins, and outer line darker: in the form suffusa Tutt the dark median area below the stigmata becomes blackish and forms with the black streak from base a curved black marking. The larva is dull pinkish ochreous, with a paler dorsal line and dark brown blotches on dorsum on segments 7 and 8; the 11th segment is slightly humped.
The moth flies from February to May depending on the location. The larvae feed on honeysuckle (Lonicera species). Wikipedia →
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Snowdonia National Park | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | |
| 2 | Wadden Sea National Park | 🇩🇪 Germany | |
| 3 | Cévennes National Park | 🇫🇷 France |
| # | City | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | London | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | |
| 2 | Liverpool | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | |
| 3 | Porto | 🇵🇹 Portugal | |
| 4 | Birmingham | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | |
| 5 | Manchester | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom |
With luck
About 10% of wildlife watchers report an Early Grey sighting in Wadden Sea National Park on a given day, based on 64 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 58th most-seen of the 818 insects we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 30%, and over a week to about 50%, if each day is a fresh chance.
April
In that month about 40% of wildlife watchers report an Early Grey in Wadden Sea National Park on a given day, against under 5% in June to February, the lowest months. That is one of Wadden Sea National Park's driest months, with about 45 mm of rain against 140 mm in November.
Between 6 and 9 am
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Early Grey sightings with a recorded time, and about 7 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.
Among the best
Of the 3 parks where we can rate Early Grey sightings, Wadden Sea National Park ranks 2nd at about 10%, level with the leaders once rounded. The best odds are in Snowdonia National Park (United Kingdom, about 10%).
Same family: Noctuidae
The closest relatives of the Early Grey that you can see in Wadden Sea National Park (family Noctuidae, Cutworm Moths and Allies) are Large Yellow Underwing (about 20%), Silver Υ (about 20%) and Flame Shoulder Moth (about 10%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Early Grey is recorded against all the insects logged in Wadden Sea National Park (64 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.
