Polystoechotes punctata
In 3 days ~10% in a week ~30%
Polystoechotes punctata is a species of giant lacewing in the family Ithonidae. Found in Central America and North America, this giant lacewing was considered extirpated from eastern North America by the 1950s but was serendipitously rediscovered in Fayetteville, Arkansas, where it was found clinging to a facade at a Walmart in 2012. Although it was found in 2012, it was misidentified until 2020.
Characteristics Winged insect, grow up to two inches. Wikipedia →
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 2 | Redwood National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 3 | Banff National Park | 🇨🇦 Canada | |
| 4 | Great Bear Rainforest | 🇨🇦 Canada | |
| 5 | Yosemite National Park | 🇺🇸 United States |
No species of the same family or order lives in Banff National Park, so these are its closest relatives here: other insects.
With luck
About 10% of wildlife watchers report a Polystoechotes punctata sighting in Banff National Park on a given day, based on 6 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 76th most-seen of the 105 insects we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 10%, and over a week to about 30%, if each day is a fresh chance.
August
In that month about 10% of wildlife watchers report a Polystoechotes punctata in Banff National Park on a given day, against under 5% in September to July, the lowest months.
Between 8 and 11 pm
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Polystoechotes punctata sightings with a recorded time, and about half of them come between 6 pm and 6 am: it is seen both by day and at night.
Among the best
Of the 5 parks where we can rate Polystoechotes punctata sightings, Banff National Park ranks 3rd at about 10%, level with the leaders once rounded. The best odds are in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks (United States, about 10%) and Redwood National Park (United States, about 10%).
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Polystoechotes punctata is recorded against all the insects logged in Banff National Park (6 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.
