Diachrysia balluca
In 3 days ~10% in a week ~20%
Diachrysia balluca (Geyer, 1832), commonly known as the green-patched looper or hologram moth, is a moth of the family Noctuidae. The species was first described by scientific illustrator Carl Geyer in 1832. Diachrysia balluca is a large (20.0-25.0 mm forewing length) grey to brown moth with pointed forewings. The forewings possess metallic green patches over the outer two-thirds, and the hindwings are grey and unmarked. The underside of the thorax is white, and the prothorax is brown to yellow. Diachrysia balluca is the largest plusiine in North America.
Information regarding the larval form of Diachrysia balluca is limited. Most larvae in the subfamily Plusiinae lack prolegs on abdominal segments three and four. This results in a 'looping motion' of their abdomen during movement much like inchworms. This subfamily is also characterized by upturned labial palps above the eye, large scale tufts on the thorax, dorsal scale tufts on one or more abdominal segments, and a quadrifid hindwing.
Diachrysia balluca occurs in northeastern North America, west from Nova Scotia to Manitoba and south to North Carolina. The species' southern limit... Wikipedia →
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Rare
Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Hologram Moth sighting in Toronto on a given day, based on 15 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data. It is the 828th most-seen of the 1689 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 Hologram Moth in Toronto on a given day, so our monthly data shows no clear season.
Among the best
Of the 2 cities where we can rate Hologram Moth sightings, Toronto ranks 2nd at under 5%, level with the leaders once rounded. The best odds are in Edmonton (Canada, under 5%).
Same family: Noctuidae
The closest relatives of the Hologram Moth that you can see in Toronto (family Noctuidae, Cutworm Moths and Allies) are American Dagger (about 10%), Large Yellow Underwing (about 10%) and Armyworm Moth (about 10%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Hologram Moth is recorded against all the insects logged in Toronto (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.
