Melanodes anthracitaria
In 3 days ~10% in a week ~20%
Melanodes is a monotypic moth genus in the family Geometridae. Its only species, Melanodes anthracitaria, the black geometrid, is found in Australia, more specifically in southern Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, and Tasmania. The genus and species were described by Achille Guenée in 1857.
The wingspan is about 50 mm for females and 40 mm for males. The moth flies from August to January depending on the location. The larvae feed on Eucalyptus species. Wikipedia →
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Great Otway National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 2 | Blue Mountains National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia |
Rare
Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Black Geometrid sighting in Sydney on a given day, based on 15 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data. It is the 393rd most-seen of the 742 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.
September
In that month about 10% of wildlife watchers report a Black Geometrid in Sydney on a given day, against under 5% in October to August, the lowest months. That is one of Sydney's driest months, with about 45 mm of rain against 130 mm in February.
Between 8 and 11 pm
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Black Geometrid sightings with a recorded time, and about half of them come between 6 pm and 6 am: it is seen both by day and at night.
Among the best
Of the 2 cities where we can rate Black Geometrid sightings, Sydney ranks 2nd at under 5%, level with the leaders once rounded. The best odds are in Melbourne (Australia, under 5%).
Same family: Geometridae
The closest relatives of the Black Geometrid that you can see in Sydney (family Geometridae, Geometer Moths) are Red-Lined Looper (about 10%), Apple Looper (about 10%) and Sinister Moth (about 10%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Black Geometrid is recorded against all the insects logged in Sydney (15 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.
