Ardices canescens
In 3 days ~40% in a week ~70%
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 Booderee National Park on a given day, based on 8 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 22nd most-seen of the 59 insects we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 40%, and over a week to about 70%, if each day is a fresh chance.
September
In that month about 30% of wildlife watchers report a Light Ermine Moth in Booderee National Park on a given day, against under 5% in April–August and December, the lowest months. That is one of Booderee National Park's driest months, with about 60 mm of rain against 150 mm in March.
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.
Yes
Of the 5 parks where we can rate Light Ermine Moth sightings, Booderee National Park has the highest daily chance: about 10%. Next come Blue Mountains National Park (Australia, about 10%) and Lamington National Park (Australia, about 10%).
Same family: Erebidae
The closest relatives of the Light Ermine Moth that you can see in Booderee National Park (family Erebidae, Underwing, Tiger, Tussock, and Allied Moths) are Cyme structa (about 20%), Little Mask Philenora (about 20%) and Calliteara pura (about 10%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Light Ermine Moth is recorded against all the insects logged in Booderee National Park (8 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.
