Asaphodes aegrota

Asaphodes aegrota

Asaphodes aegrota

Endemic
Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck
at Fiordland National Park

In 3 days ~20% in a week ~40%

6 Verified sightings at Fiordland National Park From 2019 to 2026
27 In all 3 parks
January Best month
🌙 Nocturnal When it's spotted

About the Asaphodes aegrota

Asaphodes aegrota, also known as the dull brown looper, is a species of moth in the family Geometridae. It was first described by Arthur Gardiner Butler in 1879 as Selidosema aegrota. It is endemic to New Zealand and can be found in the North, South and Stewart Islands. This species inhabits open spaces in lowland native forest. The larvae of A. aegrota feed on native herbs and have also been observed feeding of the introduced lawn daisy. The adults are variable in appearance with the markings on both sides of its wings varying in intensity. Some populations also have narrow winged females. Adults are on the wing from November until March.

This species was first described by Arthur Gardiner Butler in 1879 using specimens collected at Wairarapa by F. W. Hutton and named Selidosema aegrota. George Hudson discussed and illustrated this species under the name Xanthorhoe aegrota in 1898 and again in 1928. In 1939 Louis Beethoven Prout placed this species in the genus Larentia. This placement was not accepted by New Zealand taxonomists. In 1971 John S. Dugdale placed this species in the genus Asaphodes. In 1988 Dugdale confirmed this placement in his catalogue of New Zealand... Wikipedia →

Global Distribution

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Daily sighting probability
1 Rakiura National Park 🇳🇿 New Zealand
~10%
2 Egmont National Park 🇳🇿 New Zealand
~10%
3 Fiordland National Park 🇳🇿 New Zealand
~10%

Before you go

What are the chances of seeing an Asaphodes aegrota in Fiordland National Park?

With luck

About 10% of wildlife watchers report an Asaphodes aegrota sighting in Fiordland National Park on a given day, based on 6 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 171st most-seen of the 201 insects we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 20%, and over a week to about 40%, if each day is a fresh chance.

When is the best time to see an Asaphodes aegrota in Fiordland National Park?

March and November–January

In those months about 10% of wildlife watchers report an Asaphodes aegrota in Fiordland National Park on a given day, against under 5% in February and April–October, the lowest months.

What time of day is best to see an Asaphodes aegrota?

Between 9 pm and midnight

Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Asaphodes aegrota sightings with a recorded time, and about 8 in 10 of them come between 6 pm and 6 am: it is mostly seen at night.

Is Fiordland National Park the best place to see an Asaphodes aegrota?

Among the best

Of the 3 parks where we can rate Asaphodes aegrota sightings, Fiordland National Park ranks 3rd at about 10%, level with the leaders once rounded. The best odds are in Rakiura National Park (New Zealand, about 10%) and Egmont National Park (New Zealand, about 10%).

Which relatives of the Asaphodes aegrota live in Fiordland National Park?

Same genus: Asaphodes

The closest relatives of the Asaphodes aegrota that you can see in Fiordland National Park (genus Asaphodes) are Exquisite Carpet (about 10%), Large Striped Carpet (about 10%) and Bright Green Carpet (about 10%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.

Where does the Asaphodes aegrota sighting chance come from?

GBIF citizen-science records

It is estimated from how often the Asaphodes aegrota is recorded against all the insects logged in Fiordland 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.

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