Sinister Moth

Sinister Moth

Pholodes sinistraria

Endemic
Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck
at Blue Mountains National Park

In 3 days ~20% in a week ~50%

27 Verified sightings at Blue Mountains National Park From 2019 to 2026
32 In all 2 parks
February Best month
☀️ Diurnal When it's spotted

About the Sinister Moth

Pholodes sinistraria, the sinister moth or frilled bark moth, is a moth of the family Geometridae. The species was first described by Achille Guenée in 1857. It is found in the eastern parts of Australia. The wingspan is about 50 mm for males and 60 mm for females.

The larvae feed on a wide range of plants, including Rosa odorata, Camellia japonica, Persea americana, Citrus unshiu, Cassia species, Ricinus communis, Acacia species and Acmena smithii. Furthermore, it is considered a pest on Macadamia integrifolia. Wikipedia →

Global Distribution

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Daily sighting probability
1 Blue Mountains National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
~10%
2 Royal National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
~10%

Cities Where Found

# City Country Daily sighting probability
1 Sydney 🇦🇺 Australia
~10%
2 Brisbane 🇦🇺 Australia
~10%
3 Melbourne 🇦🇺 Australia
<5%

Before you go

What are the chances of seeing a Sinister Moth in Blue Mountains National Park?

With luck

About 10% of wildlife watchers report a Sinister Moth sighting in Blue Mountains National Park on a given day, based on 27 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 155th most-seen of the 789 insects we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 20%, and over a week to about 50%, if each day is a fresh chance.

When is the best time to see a Sinister Moth in Blue Mountains National Park?

February

In that month about 20% of wildlife watchers report a Sinister Moth in Blue Mountains National Park on a given day, against under 5% in May to August, the lowest months.

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

Between 9 am and noon

Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Sinister Moth sightings with a recorded time, and about 8 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.

Is Blue Mountains National Park the best place to see a Sinister Moth?

Yes

Of the 2 parks where we can rate Sinister Moth sightings, Blue Mountains National Park has the highest daily chance: about 10%. Next come Royal National Park (Australia, about 10%).

Which relatives of the Sinister Moth live in Blue Mountains National Park?

Same family: Geometridae

The closest relatives of the Sinister Moth that you can see in Blue Mountains National Park (family Geometridae, Geometer Moths) are Apple Looper (about 20%), Black Geometrid (about 10%) and Plantain Moth (about 10%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.

Where does the Sinister Moth sighting chance come from?

GBIF citizen-science records

It is estimated from how often the Sinister Moth is recorded against all the insects logged in Blue Mountains National Park (27 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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