Chelepteryx collesi
In 3 days ~10% in a week ~20%
Chelepteryx collesi, the batwing moth or white stemmed gum moth, is a moth of the family Anthelidae. The species was first described by John Edward Gray in 1835. It is found in Australasia. The wingspan of the female can range up to 160 mm; the male has a wingspan that ranges to about 140 mm.
The larvae feed on Myrtaceae species. They are the largest caterpillars in Australia, growing to a length of 15 cm, and they have many sharp urticating hairs. The hairs are sharp and very difficult to dislodge once embedded in the skin. The cocoons are also large and are similarly protected by stinging hairs. Wikipedia →
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Royal National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 2 | Booderee National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 3 | Blue Mountains National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 4 | Great Otway National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia |
Rare
Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Batwing Moth sighting in Melbourne on a given day, based on 26 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data. It is the 377th most-seen of the 875 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.
May
In that month about 10% of wildlife watchers report a Batwing Moth in Melbourne on a given day, against under 5% in June to April, the lowest months.
Between 7 and 10 pm
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Batwing Moth sightings with a recorded time, and about 7 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is seen both by day and at night.
2nd of 2
Of the 2 cities where we can rate Batwing Moth sightings, Melbourne ranks 2nd at under 5%. The best odds are in Sydney (Australia, about 10%).
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Batwing Moth is recorded against all the insects logged in Melbourne (26 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.
