Synemon plana
In 3 days ~10% in a week ~20%
Synemon plana, commonly known as the golden sun moth, is a diurnal moth native to Australia and throughout its range, it is currently classified as vulnerable under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.
A description of the species was published in 1854 (Lepidoptera: Castniidae), as a medium-sized (wingspan 31–34 mm), day-flying moth species. Up until recently, the species had been listed as critically endangered, attracting the status of a flagship species towards the conservation of natural temperate grassland.
The golden sun moth is a medium-sized, day-flying moth with distinct green eyes and clubbed antennae. The antennae are a notable feature of Synemon plana; as most other moths have brushy antennae. Listed as vulnerable under the EPBC Act 1999, it is synonymous with Rytidosperma species of grasses and is almost completely confined to grasslands which include many of these grass species. At least a 40% cover of Rytidosperma species is optimal for the species.
Male Synemon plana are dull in colour, the forewings consisting of dark brown, patterned with pale grey and the hind wings are brown with darker brown patches... Wikipedia →
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|
More parks will be added in future updates.
| # | City | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Melbourne | 🇦🇺 Australia |
Rare
Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Golden Sunmoth sighting in Melbourne on a given day, based on 8 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data. It is the 670th 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 Golden Sunmoth in Melbourne on a given day, so our monthly data shows no clear season.
Only Melbourne, in our data
Melbourne is the only city on Wallace's Line with enough records to rate Golden Sunmoth sightings: under 5% of wildlife watchers there report one on a given day.
Same order: Lepidoptera
The closest relatives of the Golden Sunmoth that you can see in Melbourne (order Lepidoptera, Butterflies and Moths) are Yellow-Banded Dart (about 30%), Australian Painted Lady (about 30%) and Common Brown (about 30%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Golden Sunmoth is recorded against all the insects logged in Melbourne (8 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.
