What are the chances of seeing a Variable Oakleaf Caterpillar Moth in Great Smoky Mountains National Park?
Rare
Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Variable Oakleaf Caterpillar 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.
When is the best time to see a Variable Oakleaf Caterpillar Moth in Great Smoky Mountains National Park?
August and September
In those months about 10% of wildlife watchers report a Variable Oakleaf Caterpillar Moth in Great Smoky Mountains National Park on a given day, against under 5% in October to July, the lowest months.
What time of day is best to see a Variable Oakleaf Caterpillar Moth?
Between 11 am and 2 pm
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Variable Oakleaf Caterpillar Moth sightings with a recorded time, and about 9 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.
Is Great Smoky Mountains National Park the best place to see a Variable Oakleaf Caterpillar Moth?
2nd of 2
Of the 2 parks where we can rate Variable Oakleaf Caterpillar Moth sightings, Great Smoky Mountains National Park ranks 2nd at under 5%. The best odds are in Shenandoah National Park (United States, about 10%).
Which relatives of the Variable Oakleaf Caterpillar Moth live in Great Smoky Mountains National Park?
Same family: Notodontidae
The closest relatives of the Variable Oakleaf Caterpillar Moth that you can see in Great Smoky Mountains National Park (family Notodontidae, Prominent Moths) are White-Dotted Prominent (about 10%), Mottled Prominent (about 10%) and Wavy-Lined Heterocampa Moth (about 10%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.
Where does the Variable Oakleaf Caterpillar Moth sighting chance come from?
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Variable Oakleaf Caterpillar 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.
