Spilosoma vestalis
In 3 days ~10% in a week ~20%
Spilosoma vestalis, the Vestal tiger-moth, is a moth in the family Erebidae. It was described by Alpheus Spring Packard in 1864. It is found along the coast of western North America, from California north to the Kitsap Peninsula in Washington and western Idaho.
The length of the forewings is 19–26 mm. Adults are on wing from May to June. The larvae feed on various plants, including Alnus rubra and Quercus garryana. Wikipedia →
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Redwood National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 2 | Yosemite National Park | 🇺🇸 United States |
| # | City | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 2 | Los Angeles | 🇺🇸 United States |
Rare
Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Vestal Tiger Moth sighting in San Francisco on a given day, based on 90 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data. It is the 203rd most-seen of the 737 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.
April
In that month about 10% of wildlife watchers report a Vestal Tiger Moth in San Francisco on a given day, against under 5% in May to March, the lowest months.
Between 10 am and 1 pm
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Vestal Tiger 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.
Yes
Of the 2 cities where we can rate Vestal Tiger Moth sightings, San Francisco has the highest daily chance: under 5%. Next come Los Angeles (United States, under 5%).
Same family: Erebidae
The closest relatives of the Vestal Tiger Moth that you can see in San Francisco (family Erebidae, Underwing, Tiger, Tussock, and Allied Moths) are Spotted Tussock Moth (about 10%) and Western Tussock Moth (about 10%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Vestal Tiger Moth is recorded against all the insects logged in San Francisco (90 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.
