Cape Hawkmoth

Cape Hawkmoth

Theretra capensis

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck
at Garden Route National Park

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

22 Verified sightings at Garden Route National Park From 2019 to 2026
46 In all 4 parks
November Best month
☀️🌙 Day & Night When it's spotted

About the Cape Hawkmoth

Theretra capensis is a moth of the family Sphingidae. It is known from woodland and open habitats from the Cape to Zimbabwe, Zambia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Malawi, Mozambique and East Africa. The length of the forewings is 44–52 mm.

The larvae feed on Vigna species. Wikipedia →

Global Distribution

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Daily sighting probability
1 Garden Route National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
~10%
2 Addo Elephant National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
~10%
3 Kruger National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
<5%
4 Table Mountain National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
<5%

Cities Where Found

# City Country Daily sighting probability
1 Johannesburg 🇿🇦 South Africa
~10%
2 Pretoria 🇿🇦 South Africa
<5%
3 Cape Town 🇿🇦 South Africa
<5%

Before you go

What are the chances of seeing a Cape Hawkmoth in Garden Route National Park?

With luck

About 10% of wildlife watchers report a Cape Hawkmoth sighting in Garden Route National Park on a given day, based on 22 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 97th most-seen of the 298 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 a Cape Hawkmoth in Garden Route National Park?

November

In that month about 20% of wildlife watchers report a Cape Hawkmoth in Garden Route National Park on a given day, against under 5% in April to September, the lowest months.

What time of day is best to see a Cape Hawkmoth?

Between 8 and 11 pm

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

Is Garden Route National Park the best place to see a Cape Hawkmoth?

Yes

Of the 4 parks where we can rate Cape Hawkmoth sightings, Garden Route National Park has the highest daily chance: about 10%. Next come Addo Elephant National Park (South Africa, about 10%) and Kruger National Park (South Africa, under 5%).

Where does the Cape Hawkmoth sighting chance come from?

GBIF citizen-science records

It is estimated from how often the Cape Hawkmoth is recorded against all the insects logged in Garden Route National Park (22 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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