Carpenterworm Moth

Carpenterworm Moth

Prionoxystus robiniae

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck
at Big Cypress National Preserve

In 3 days ~20% in a week ~40%

7 Verified sightings at Big Cypress National Preserve From 2019 to 2026
47 In all 5 parks
December Best month
☀️🌙 Day & Night When it's spotted

About the Carpenterworm Moth

Prionoxystus robiniae, the carpenterworm moth or locust borer, is a moth of the family Cossidae. It was first described by Peck in 1818 and it is found in southern Canada and most of the United States. The wingspan is 43–85 mm (1.7–3.3 in). Adults are on wing from May to July depending on the location.

The larvae feed on locust, oak, chestnut, poplar, willow, maple and ash. The species is considered a pest, because the tunnels the larvae create decrease the value of hardwood lumber. Wikipedia →

Global Distribution

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Daily sighting probability
1 Big Cypress National Preserve 🇺🇸 United States
~10%
2 Everglades National Park 🇺🇸 United States
~10%
3 Great Smoky Mountains National Park 🇺🇸 United States
~10%
4 Shenandoah National Park 🇺🇸 United States
~10%
5 Cumbres de Monterrey National Park 🇲🇽 Mexico
<5%

Cities Where Found

# City Country Daily sighting probability
1 Austin 🇺🇸 United States
~10%
2 Dallas 🇺🇸 United States
~10%
3 Sacramento 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
4 Washington 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
5 Chicago 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
6 Montreal 🇨🇦 Canada
<5%
7 Houston 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
8 New York City 🇺🇸 United States
<5%

Before you go

What are the chances of seeing a Carpenterworm Moth in Big Cypress National Preserve?

With luck

About 10% of wildlife watchers report a Carpenterworm Moth sighting in Big Cypress National Preserve on a given day, based on 7 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 173rd most-seen of the 262 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.

When is the best time to see a Carpenterworm Moth in Big Cypress National Preserve?

December

In that month about 20% of wildlife watchers report a Carpenterworm Moth in Big Cypress National Preserve on a given day, against under 5% in January and May–November, the lowest months. That is one of Big Cypress National Preserve's driest months, with about 60 mm of rain against 260 mm in June.

What time of day is best to see a Carpenterworm Moth?

Between 7 and 10 pm

Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Carpenterworm Moth sightings with a recorded time, and about 7 in 10 of them come between 6 pm and 6 am: it is seen both by day and at night.

Is Big Cypress National Preserve the best place to see a Carpenterworm Moth?

Yes

Of the 5 parks where we can rate Carpenterworm Moth sightings, Big Cypress National Preserve has the highest daily chance: about 10%. Next come Everglades National Park (United States, about 10%) and Great Smoky Mountains National Park (United States, about 10%).

Which relatives of the Carpenterworm Moth live in Big Cypress National Preserve?

Same order: Lepidoptera

The closest relatives of the Carpenterworm Moth that you can see in Big Cypress National Preserve (order Lepidoptera, Butterflies and Moths) are White Peacock (about 40%), Gulf Fritillary (about 40%) and Queen (about 30%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.

Where does the Carpenterworm Moth sighting chance come from?

GBIF citizen-science records

It is estimated from how often the Carpenterworm Moth is recorded against all the insects logged in Big Cypress National Preserve (7 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.

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