Samea multiplicalis
In 3 days ~10% in a week ~20%
Samea multiplicalis, the salvinia stem-borer moth, is an aquatic moth commonly found in freshwater habitats from the southern United States to Argentina, as well as in Australia where it was introduced in 1981. Salvinia stem-borer moths lay their eggs on water plants like Azolla caroliniana (water velvet), Pistia stratiotes (water lettuce), and Salvinia rotundifolia (water fern). Larval feeding on host plants causes plant death, which makes S. multiplicalis a good candidate for biological control of weedy water plants like Salvinia molesta, an invasive water fern in Australia. However, high rates of parasitism in the moth compromise its ability to effectively control water weeds. S. multiplicalis larvae are a pale yellow to green color, and adults develop tan coloration with darker patterning. The lifespan, from egg to the end of adulthood is typically three to four weeks. The species was first described by Achille Guenée in 1854.
Samea multiplicalis was first observed in Brazil in 1854, and has since been documented across the southeastern United States, as far west as Louisiana. This region constitutes its native range. In 1981, the moth was introduced in Australia... Wikipedia →
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Big Cypress National Preserve | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 2 | Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 3 | Everglades National Park | 🇺🇸 United States |
Rare
Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Salvinia Stem Borer Moth sighting in Everglades National Park on a given day, based on 6 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 439th most-seen of the 496 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 and December–January
In those months about 10% of wildlife watchers report a Salvinia Stem Borer Moth in Everglades National Park on a given day, against under 5% in February–March and May–November, the lowest months. Those are among Everglades National Park's driest months, with about 60 mm of rain a month against 240 mm in June.
Between 9 pm and midnight
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Salvinia Stem Borer Moth sightings with a recorded time, and about 9 in 10 of them come between 6 pm and 6 am: it is mostly seen at night.
3rd of 3
Of the 3 parks where we can rate Salvinia Stem Borer Moth sightings, Everglades National Park ranks 3rd at under 5%. The best odds are in Big Cypress National Preserve (United States, about 10%) and Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge (United States, about 10%).
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Salvinia Stem Borer Moth is recorded against all the insects logged in Everglades National Park (6 verified sightings from 2019 to 2026), 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.
