Transverse Moth

Transverse Moth

Xanthodes transversa

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck
at Kochi

In 3 days ~20% in a week ~40%

17 Verified sightings at Kochi
19 In all 2 parks From 2019 to 2026
March Best month
☀️🌙 Day & Night When it's spotted

About the Transverse Moth

Xanthodes transversa, the transverse moth or hibiscus caterpillar, is a moth of the family Nolidae. The species was first described by Achille Guenée in 1852. It is found in India, Sri Lanka, the Andaman Islands, the Nicobar Islands, China, Hong Kong, Vanuatu, Java, New Guinea, Japan, the Ryukyu Islands, Singapore, Indonesia and Australia.

The wingspan of the female is 36 mm and male is 35–42 mm. Palpi reddish brown and porrect (extending forward). Head, thorax and abdomen bright canary yellow. Vertex of thorax rufous. Legs reddish brown. Tibia with long hairs. Forewings bright yellowish with distinct three brown arrow-shaped lines across each forewing. The caterpillars show remarkable color variations. A large bright rufous triangular patch is found over the whole outer area of the forewings. A black sub-apical speck visible. Cilia rufous. Hindwings reddish brown suffusion with rufous outer margin. The caterpillar is 35–40 mm in length.

It is a multivoltine moth species, where organism having more than two broods or generations per year. The caterpillar is a pest on several economically important crops such as Hibiscus mutabilis, Hibiscus heterophyllus, Hibiscus rosa... Wikipedia →

Global Distribution

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Daily sighting probability
1 Daintree National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
~10%
2 Blue Mountains National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
<5%

Cities Where Found

# City Country Daily sighting probability
1 Kochi 🇮🇳 India
~10%
2 Brisbane 🇦🇺 Australia
<5%
3 Mumbai 🇮🇳 India
<5%
4 Tokyo 🇯🇵 Japan
<5%

Before you go

What are the chances of seeing a Transverse Moth in Kochi?

With luck

About 10% of wildlife watchers report a Transverse Moth sighting in Kochi on a given day, based on 17 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data. It is the 206th most-seen of the 428 insects we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 20%, and over a week to about 40%, if each day is a fresh chance.

When is the best time to see a Transverse Moth in Kochi?

March, May–August and October–January

In those months about 10% of wildlife watchers report a Transverse Moth in Kochi on a given day, against under 5% in February, April and September, the lowest months.

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

Between 7 and 10 pm

Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Transverse Moth sightings with a recorded time, and about 6 in 10 of them come between 6 pm and 6 am: it is seen both by day and at night.

Is Kochi the best place to see a Transverse Moth?

Yes

Of the 4 cities where we can rate Transverse Moth sightings, Kochi has the highest daily chance: about 10%. Next come Brisbane (Australia, under 5%) and Mumbai (India, under 5%).

Where does the Transverse Moth sighting chance come from?

GBIF citizen-science records

It is estimated from how often the Transverse Moth is recorded against all the insects logged in Kochi (17 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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