Phyllodesma americana
In 3 days ~10% in a week ~20%
Phyllodesma americana, the American lappet moth, is a moth of the family Lasiocampidae. It is found from Nova Scotia to northern Florida, west through Texas to California, north to British Columbia and Yukon. The wingspan is 29–49 mm. Adults are on wing from March to September in two generations in the south. In eastern Ontario, adults are on wing from May to July. The flight season in Ohio is from April to August. There is one generation per year in the northern part of the range.
The larvae feed on the leaves of Alnus, Betula, Quercus, Populus, Salix, Ceanothus velutinus, Chrysolepis chrysophylla and Rosoideae species. Wikipedia →
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Great Bear Rainforest | 🇨🇦 Canada | |
| 2 | Olympic National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 3 | Acadia National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 4 | Great Smoky Mountains National Park | 🇺🇸 United States |
Rare
Under 5% of wildlife watchers report an American Lappet Moth sighting in Great Smoky Mountains National Park on a given day, based on 6 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 628th most-seen of the 822 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.
March and April
In those months about 10% of wildlife watchers report an American Lappet Moth in Great Smoky Mountains National Park on a given day, against under 5% in May to February, the lowest months.
Between 9 pm and midnight
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most American Lappet Moth 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.
4th of 4
Of the 4 parks where we can rate American Lappet Moth sightings, Great Smoky Mountains National Park ranks 4th at under 5%. The best odds are in Great Bear Rainforest (Canada, about 10%), Olympic National Park (United States, about 10%) and Acadia National Park (United States, under 5%).
Same family: Lasiocampidae
The closest relatives of the American Lappet Moth that you can see in Great Smoky Mountains National Park (family Lasiocampidae, Lappet Moths) are Eastern Tent Caterpillar Moth (about 10%), Forest Tent Caterpillar Moth (about 10%) and Dot-Lined White (about 10%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the American Lappet Moth is recorded against all the insects logged in Great Smoky Mountains 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.
