Ardices canescens
In 3 days ~30% in a week ~60%
Ardices canescens, the dark-spotted tiger moth or light ermine moth, is a moth in the family Erebidae that is found across most of Australia. It originally was included in the genus Spilosoma, but later the generic status of Ardices was proven.
The larvae are polyphagous, and are known to feed on Bidens pilosa, Helianthus annuus, Taraxacum officinale, Ipomoea batatas, Alcea rosea, Rosa odorata, Plantago, Ricinus communis and Tradescantia albiflora. The polyembryonic parasitoid wasp Copidosoma floridanum sometimes uses this species of caterpillar as a host. Wikipedia →
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Booderee National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 2 | Blue Mountains National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 3 | Lamington National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 4 | Springbrook National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 5 | Great Otway National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia |
| # | City | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sydney | 🇦🇺 Australia |
With luck
About 10% of wildlife watchers report a Light Ermine Moth sighting in Blue Mountains National Park on a given day, based on 52 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 50th most-seen of the 789 insects we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 30%, and over a week to about 60%, if each day is a fresh chance.
September and November–February
In those months about 20% of wildlife watchers report a Light Ermine Moth in Blue Mountains National Park on a given day, against under 5% in March to August, the lowest months.
Between 7 and 10 pm
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Light Ermine Moth sightings with a recorded time, and about half of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is seen both by day and at night.
Among the best
Of the 5 parks where we can rate Light Ermine Moth sightings, Blue Mountains National Park ranks 2nd at about 10%, level with the leaders once rounded. The best odds are in Booderee National Park (Australia, about 10%).
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Light Ermine Moth is recorded against all the insects logged in Blue Mountains National Park (52 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.
