Argyrophenga antipodum
In 3 days ~70% in a week >90%
Argyrophenga antipodum, the common tussock or tussock ringlet, is a species of butterfly commonly found in the South Island of New Zealand. Argyrophenga antipodum is approximately 12–17 mm long with a wingspan of about 35–45 mm. Male and female common tussock butterflies are quite different in body shape, as females are shorter and have more rounded bodies compared to the males. Common tussock butterflies have very distinct markings on the underside of their wings; they are described as silver streaks and give the butterflies an advantage when it comes to camouflage. The butterfly itself is brown and red, with distinctive eyespots, this is believed to be an evolutionary adaptation to prevent prey from attacking. The sexes are coloured differently with the males being darker in colour and having more red and brown on them and the females are more of a yellow colour, but have very similar patterns or markings on their topside and underside.
The common tussock butterfly is endemic to New Zealand. It can be found in the eastern, southern and central regions of New Zealand's South Island, most abundantly in lowland Canterbury... Wikipedia →
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aoraki Mount Cook National Park | 🇳🇿 New Zealand | |
| 2 | Arthur's Pass National Park | 🇳🇿 New Zealand | |
| 3 | Fiordland National Park | 🇳🇿 New Zealand |
Likely
About 40% of wildlife watchers report a Common Tussock Butterfly sighting in Aoraki Mount Cook National Park on a given day, based on 18 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 4th most-seen of the 10 insects we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 70%, and over a week to over 90%, if each day is a fresh chance.
February
In that month about 70% of wildlife watchers report a Common Tussock Butterfly in Aoraki Mount Cook National Park on a given day, against under 5% in March–May and October–December, the lowest months.
Between noon and 3 pm
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Common Tussock Butterfly sightings with a recorded time, and about 9 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.
Yes
Of the 3 parks where we can rate Common Tussock Butterfly sightings, Aoraki Mount Cook National Park has the highest daily chance: about 40%. Next come Arthur's Pass National Park (New Zealand, about 20%) and Fiordland National Park (New Zealand, about 10%).
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Common Tussock Butterfly is recorded against all the insects logged in Aoraki Mount Cook National Park (18 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.
