Small Mottled Willow
Finally a proper migrant moth, a true rarity, made Bergen part of the story.
INSECTS
8/9/20261 min read
On 8 August 2026 I light-trapped a Small Mottled Willow Spodoptera exigua in Nordvik, marking the first documented record of the moth in Bergen, western Norway. The species has long been a rarity in Norway, with only scattered observations from 1900 to 2014. Even the first broader influx in 2015 produced relatively modest numbers. Everything changed in 2026.
The national dataset shows an extraordinary pattern this year. The first individuals appeared already in late May, followed by a steady flow into June. In July the influx intensified, and by early August the species was being recorded daily across Agder, Rogaland, Vestfold, Østfold and Innlandet. The date of my own record coincided with one of the peak days, when it was also recorded in Kristiansand, Sandnes, Ringsaker and Kråkerøy. The scale and geographic spread are unprecedented in Norwegian context.
The Small Mottled Willow is a cosmopolitan migrant originating in warm, dry regions. It is historically a scarce visitor to Scandinavia. It has been more regular in countries like the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany, and some years numerous in Britain and Denmark during strong migration years. Reports from Denmark, Sweden and the Baltic region indicate that 2026 is exceptional across the entire region.
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