Panthea acronyctoides
In 3 days ~20% in a week ~40%
Panthea acronyctoides, the black zigzag or tufted spruce caterpillar, is a moth of the family Noctuidae. The species was first described by Francis Walker in 1861. It is found in North America from Newfoundland to British Columbia and adjacent northern states, south in the west to Colorado, south in the east to New England and Kentucky.
The wingspan is 30–35 mm. The moth flies from May to August depending on the location. The larvae feed on balsam fir, eastern hemlock, eastern larch, pines, and spruces. Wikipedia →
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Acadia National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 2 | Great Smoky Mountains National Park | 🇺🇸 United States |
With luck
About 10% of wildlife watchers report a Black Zigzag Moth sighting in Acadia National Park on a given day, based on 17 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 141st most-seen of the 405 insects we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 20%, and over a week to about 40%, if each day is a fresh chance.
July
In that month about 20% of wildlife watchers report a Black Zigzag Moth in Acadia National Park on a given day, against under 5% in August to May, the lowest months.
Between 9 pm and midnight
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Black Zigzag Moth sightings with a recorded time, and about half of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is seen both by day and at night.
Yes
Of the 2 parks where we can rate Black Zigzag Moth sightings, Acadia National Park has the highest daily chance: about 10%. Next come Great Smoky Mountains National Park (United States, under 5%).
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Black Zigzag Moth is recorded against all the insects logged in Acadia National Park (17 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.
