Physetica phricias
In 3 days ~30% in a week ~50%
Physetica phricias is a moth of the family Noctuidae. It is endemic to New Zealand. It is wide spread in the South Island and inhabits shrubland. The host of the larvae of this species is matagouri. The adult moths are on the wing from September to May and July, and are attracted both to light and sugar traps.They are a faster-flying species and remain active even during windy conditions. P. phricias can be confused with some forms of P. sequens. However P. phricias can be distinguished as it has a less marbled appearance to its forewing.
This species was first named by Edward Meyrick as Mamestra phricias in 1888. George Hudson described and illustrated this species both in his 1898 book New Zealand moths and butterflies (Macro-lepidoptera) and in his 1928 book The butterflies and moths of New Zealand using the name Melanchra phricias. In 1905 George Hampston placed this species within the genus Morrisonia. In 1911 William Warren believing he was describing a new species named it Cucullia cellulata. In 1988 J. S. Dugdale discussed the species under the name Graphania phricias.
In 2017 Robert J. B. Hoare undertook a revision of New Zealand Noctuinae and placed this species... Wikipedia →
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arthur's Pass National Park | 🇳🇿 New Zealand |
More parks will be added in future updates.
With luck
About 10% of wildlife watchers report a Physetica phricias sighting in Arthur's Pass National Park on a given day, based on 5 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 48th most-seen of the 60 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.
November
In that month about 30% of wildlife watchers report a Physetica phricias in Arthur's Pass National Park on a given day, against under 5% in February to October, the lowest months.
Between midnight and 3 am
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Physetica phricias sightings with a recorded time, and about 8 in 10 of them come between 6 pm and 6 am: it is mostly seen at night.
Only Arthur's Pass National Park, in our data
Arthur's Pass National Park is the only park on Wallace's Line with enough records to rate Physetica phricias sightings: about 10% of wildlife watchers there report one on a given day.
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Physetica phricias is recorded against all the insects logged in Arthur's Pass National Park (5 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.
