Spiny Bollworm

Spiny Bollworm

Earias biplaga

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck
at Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park

In 3 days ~20% in a week ~50%

5 Verified sightings at Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park From 2019 to 2026
53 In all 4 parks
April Best month
🌙 Nocturnal When it's spotted

About the Spiny Bollworm

Earias biplaga, the spiny bollworm, is a moth in the family Nolidae. The species was first described by Francis Walker in 1866. It is found throughout subtropical Africa including Atlantic and Indian Ocean islands. Their length is about 10–12 mm, wingspan about 18–25 mm and it is characterised by a dark purplish-brown terminal fringe on the forewing.

The larvae feed on species of Fabaceae and Malvaceae. It is considered as a pest to cotton and cacao. Wikipedia →

Global Distribution

Parks Where Found

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

Cities Where Found

# City Country Daily sighting probability
1 Antananarivo 🇲🇬 Madagascar
~10%
2 Harare 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
~10%
3 Nairobi 🇰🇪 Kenya
~10%
4 Pretoria 🇿🇦 South Africa
~10%
5 Durban 🇿🇦 South Africa
<5%

Before you go

What are the chances of seeing a Spiny Bollworm in Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park?

With luck

About 10% of wildlife watchers report a Spiny Bollworm sighting in Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park on a given day, based on 5 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 40th most-seen of the 44 insects we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 20%, and over a week to about 50%, if each day is a fresh chance.

When is the best time to see a Spiny Bollworm in Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park?

April and May

In those months about 20% of wildlife watchers report a Spiny Bollworm in Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park on a given day, against under 5% in June to February, the lowest months.

What time of day is best to see a Spiny Bollworm?

Between 7 and 10 pm

Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Spiny Bollworm 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 Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park the best place to see a Spiny Bollworm?

Yes

Of the 4 parks where we can rate Spiny Bollworm sightings, Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park has the highest daily chance: about 10%. Next come Addo Elephant National Park (South Africa, about 10%) and Kruger National Park (South Africa, about 10%).

Which relatives of the Spiny Bollworm live in Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park?

Same order: Lepidoptera

The closest relatives of the Spiny Bollworm that you can see in Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park (order Lepidoptera, Butterflies and Moths) are African Caper (about 30%), Sulphur Orange Tip (about 20%) and Scarlet Tip (about 20%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.

Where does the Spiny Bollworm sighting chance come from?

GBIF citizen-science records

It is estimated from how often the Spiny Bollworm is recorded against all the insects logged in Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park (5 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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