Sinister Moth

Sinister Moth

Pholodes sinistraria

Endemic
Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck
at Brisbane

In 3 days ~10% in a week ~30%

39 Verified sightings at Brisbane
32 In all 2 parks From 2019 to 2026
August 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 Brisbane?

With luck

About 10% of wildlife watchers report a Sinister Moth sighting in Brisbane on a given day, based on 39 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data. It is the 317th 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 30%, if each day is a fresh chance.

When is the best time to see a Sinister Moth in Brisbane?

January–February, May–June, August and October–November

In those months about 10% of wildlife watchers report a Sinister Moth in Brisbane on a given day, against under 5% in March–April, July, September and December, 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 Brisbane the best place to see a Sinister Moth?

Among the best

Of the 3 cities where we can rate Sinister Moth sightings, Brisbane ranks 2nd at about 10%, level with the leaders once rounded. The best odds are in Sydney (Australia, about 10%).

Which relatives of the Sinister Moth live in Brisbane?

Same family: Geometridae

The closest relatives of the Sinister Moth that you can see in Brisbane (family Geometridae, Geometer Moths) are Apple Looper (about 10%), Comostola laesaria (about 10%) and Cleora repetita (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 Brisbane (39 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.

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