Pseudocoremia productata
In 3 days ~40% in a week ~60%
Pseudocoremia productata was first described by Walker as Larentia productata. The species has previously been referred to as "The Rata Moth" or the "Brown Forest Moth". It is now commonly known as the "Brown Forest Flash". The genus would later be categorised as Selidosema before Walker redescribed the species as Pseudocoremia productata in 1862. This species of endemic moth belongs to the family Geometridae, commonly known as geometer mothsor inchworms. Many species within this family are well camouflaged to resemble twigs, dead leaves, or tree bark.
Adult Pseudocoremia productata are sexually dimorphic and are identifiable by their wings, antennae, and external genitalic characteristics. Its name "Brown Forest Flash" is associated with the flashing of its pale hind wings when flying and the ability to conceal itself on forest tree trunks. This characteristic is known as "Protective Resemblance". It is a term that describes colour or forms that allow a species to closely resemble its surroundings to escape the notice of its natural enemies.
Females have pectinate antennae, which are comb-like filiform structures. In contrast, males have bipectinate antennae where... Wikipedia →
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fiordland National Park | 🇳🇿 New Zealand | |
| 2 | Rakiura National Park | 🇳🇿 New Zealand | |
| 3 | Arthur's Pass National Park | 🇳🇿 New Zealand | |
| 4 | Egmont National Park | 🇳🇿 New Zealand |
| # | City | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Auckland | 🇳🇿 New Zealand |
With luck
About 10% of wildlife watchers report a Brown Forest Flash sighting in Arthur's Pass National Park on a given day, based on 9 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 26th most-seen of the 60 insects we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 40%, and over a week to about 60%, if each day is a fresh chance.
June
In that month about 40% of wildlife watchers report a Brown Forest Flash in Arthur's Pass National Park on a given day, against under 5% in April–May and July–November, the lowest months.
Between 9 pm and midnight
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Brown Forest Flash sightings with a recorded time, and about 6 in 10 of them come between 6 pm and 6 am: it is seen both by day and at night.
3rd of 4
Of the 4 parks where we can rate Brown Forest Flash sightings, Arthur's Pass National Park ranks 3rd at about 10%. The best odds are in Fiordland National Park (New Zealand, about 20%) and Rakiura National Park (New Zealand, about 10%).
Same family: Geometridae
The closest relatives of the Brown Forest Flash that you can see in Arthur's Pass National Park (family Geometridae, Geometer Moths) are Orange Underwing (about 20%), Forest Semilooper (about 10%) and Large Striped Carpet (about 10%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Brown Forest Flash is recorded against all the insects logged in Arthur's Pass National Park (9 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.
