Stenoptilia zophodactylus
In 3 days ~10% in a week ~20%
Stenoptilia zophodactylus, also known as the dowdy plume, is a species of moth of the family Pterophoridae found worldwide. It was first described by Philogène Auguste Joseph Duponchel in 1840. The wingspan is 16–23 mm. Gielis, C., 1996 provides a description.
The moth can be found from July to September in two or more overlapping broods. Larvae can be found from March to September, initially in an irregular, full depth blotch which may occupy the entire leaf. The frass is in numerous, dispersed brown grains. Some larvae leave the mine during an early instar and feed externally on flower buds and developing fruits while others remain in the mine until shortly before pupation. The larvae feed on common centaury (Centaurium erythraea), Centaurium venusta and Centaurium littoralis, yellow-wort (Blackstonia perfoliata), great yellow gentian (Gentiana lutea), German gentian (Gentianella germanica), Gentianella diemensis, Sopubia trifida and Ngai camphor (Blumea balsamifera).
It is found in Europe, North America (including Mexico), South America (Ecuador and Paraguay), Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, India and Iran. Wikipedia →
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Booderee National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 2 | Great Otway National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 3 | Blue Mountains National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia |
Rare
Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Dowdy Plume Moth sighting in Melbourne on a given day, based on 16 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data. It is the 480th 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.
Any time of year
In every month with enough records, under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Dowdy Plume Moth in Melbourne on a given day, so our monthly data shows no clear season.
Between 8 and 11 am
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Dowdy Plume Moth sightings with a recorded time, and about 6 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is seen both by day and at night.
Among the best
Of the 3 cities where we can rate Dowdy Plume Moth sightings, Melbourne ranks 2nd at under 5%, level with the leaders once rounded. The best odds are in Auckland (New Zealand, under 5%).
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Dowdy Plume Moth is recorded against all the insects logged in Melbourne (16 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.
