Idaea inversata
In 3 days ~10% in a week ~20%
Idaea inversata, the purple wave, is a moth of the family Geometridae. The species was first described by Achille Guenée in 1857. It is found along the east coast of Australia. Idaea inversata is externally very similar to I. costaria but lacks the two-coloured head pattern of that species. I. costaria has a creamy-white patch between the antennae, whereas I. inversata is dark reddish throughout this area. Wikipedia →
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lamington National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 2 | Blue Mountains National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 3 | Great Otway National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia |
Rare
Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Purple Wave sighting in Brisbane on a given day, based on 11 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data. It is the 680th most-seen of the 1083 insects we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 10%, and over a week to about 20%, if each day is a fresh chance.
Any time of year
In every month with enough records, under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Purple Wave in Brisbane on a given day, so our monthly data shows no clear season.
Between 7 and 10 pm
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Purple Wave sightings with a recorded time, and about 6 in 10 of them come between 6 pm and 6 am: it is most active around dawn and dusk.
Yes
Of the 2 cities where we can rate Purple Wave sightings, Brisbane has the highest daily chance: under 5%. Next come Melbourne (Australia, under 5%).
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Purple Wave is recorded against all the insects logged in Brisbane (11 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.
