Drepanacra binocula
In 3 days ~10% in a week ~30%
Drepanacra binocula, known as the Australian variable lacewing, is a species of brown lacewing in the family Hemerobiidae, found across Australia and New Zealand, including Lord Howe Island, Norfolk Island and the Kermadec Islands.
Australian variable lacewings are typically found in colonies of the insects they prey on. It has been seen feeding on a variety of hosts, including Psyllidae, spruce aphids, pine aphids, whiteflies, Eriosoma lanigerum and Trioza vitreoradiata. Drepanacra binocula can be identified by the distinctive shape and brown colour of its wings.
The species has been established in New Zealand since at least 1930. Drepanacra binocula is host to a parasitic wasp, the Lacewing Parasitoid Wasp Anacharis zealandica. The early stages of D. binocula are egg, larva, and pupa before they emerge as adults. The eggs are pale grey when laid but darken to grey/brown before hatching. As they hatch, they use a blade-like bodily structure called an oviruptor to pierce the egg. After hatching, they go through three larval stages until they enter a cocoon where they mature until they reach adulthood. Wikipedia →
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
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More parks will be added in future updates.
Rare
Under 5% of wildlife watchers report an Australian Variable Lacewing sighting in Auckland on a given day, based on 12 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data. It is the 370th most-seen of the 689 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.
July and December
In those months about 10% of wildlife watchers report an Australian Variable Lacewing in Auckland on a given day, against under 5% in January–June and August–November, the lowest months.
Among the best
Of the 3 cities where we can rate Australian Variable Lacewing sightings, Auckland ranks 2nd at under 5%, level with the leaders once rounded. The best odds are in Perth (Australia, under 5%).
Same family: Hemerobiidae
The closest relatives of the Australian Variable Lacewing that you can see in Auckland (family Hemerobiidae, Brown Lacewings) are Tasmanian Brown Lacewing (about 10%) and Psectra nakaharai (about 10%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Australian Variable Lacewing is recorded against all the insects logged in Auckland (12 verified sightings), 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.
