Deadwood Borer Moth

Deadwood Borer Moth

Scolecocampa liburna

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck
at Great Smoky Mountains National Park

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

20 Verified sightings at Great Smoky Mountains National Park From 2019 to 2026
28 In all 2 parks
July Best month
🌙 Nocturnal When it's spotted

About the Deadwood Borer Moth

Scolecocampa liburna, the dead-wood borer, is a moth in the family Erebidae. The species was first described by Carl Geyer in 1837. It is found in the US from southern Wisconsin and Michigan to central New England south to Florida and Texas.

The wingspan is 35–43 mm. Adults are on wing from late May to late July and again in late August in southern Ohio. There seems to be one generation in the north. There are more generations southward. The larvae tunnel in fallen branches and trunks of chestnut, hickory, oak, sycamore and other trees. Larvae have also been recorded from fallen dead tulip trees. Wikipedia →

Global Distribution

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Daily sighting probability
1 Great Smoky Mountains National Park 🇺🇸 United States
~10%
2 Shenandoah National Park 🇺🇸 United States
~10%

Cities Where Found

# City Country Daily sighting probability
1 Washington 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
2 Baltimore 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
3 New York City 🇺🇸 United States
<5%

Before you go

What are the chances of seeing a Deadwood Borer Moth in Great Smoky Mountains National Park?

With luck

About 10% of wildlife watchers report a Deadwood Borer Moth sighting in Great Smoky Mountains National Park on a given day, based on 20 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 250th most-seen of the 822 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 Deadwood Borer Moth in Great Smoky Mountains National Park?

June–July and September

In those months about 10% of wildlife watchers report a Deadwood Borer Moth in Great Smoky Mountains National Park on a given day, against under 5% in August and October–May, the lowest months.

What time of day is best to see a Deadwood Borer Moth?

Between 10 pm and 1 am

Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Deadwood Borer Moth 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 Great Smoky Mountains National Park the best place to see a Deadwood Borer Moth?

Yes

Of the 2 parks where we can rate Deadwood Borer Moth sightings, Great Smoky Mountains National Park has the highest daily chance: about 10%. Next come Shenandoah National Park (United States, about 10%).

Which relatives of the Deadwood Borer Moth live in Great Smoky Mountains National Park?

Same family: Erebidae

The closest relatives of the Deadwood Borer Moth that you can see in Great Smoky Mountains National Park (family Erebidae, Underwing, Tiger, Tussock, and Allied Moths) are Banded Tussock Moth (about 30%), Leconte's Haploa Moth (about 20%) and Giant Leopard Moth (about 20%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.

Where does the Deadwood Borer Moth sighting chance come from?

GBIF citizen-science records

It is estimated from how often the Deadwood Borer Moth is recorded against all the insects logged in Great Smoky Mountains National Park (20 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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