Argema mimosae
In 3 days ~10% in a week ~30%
Argema mimosae, the African moon moth, is a giant silk moth of the family Saturniidae. Similar in appearance to the giant Madagascan moon moth (Argema mittrei), but smaller, this moth can be found widely in Eastern Africa and more locally in Southern Africa, including near the east coast of South Africa. The species was first described by Jean Baptiste Boisduval in 1847. An adult can measure 10 to 12 centimetres (3.9 to 4.7 in) across its wingspan and 12 to 14 centimetres (4.7 to 5.5 in) from head to the tip of its elongated tail-like second pair of wings. Its forward wings have a distinctive grey-coloured "furry" leading edge, giving a very rough surface, presumably for aerodynamic reasons. Apart from the eye-like markings on its wings, the colouring and shape of the wings give the appearance of a piece of foliage, especially the tail-like structures of the rearmost wings which resemble a dried out leaf stem - presumably for camouflage in its natural environment. Wikipedia →
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | iSimangaliso Wetland Park | 🇿🇦 South Africa | |
| 2 | Kruger National Park | 🇿🇦 South Africa |
With luck
About 10% of wildlife watchers report an African Moon Moth sighting in Kruger National Park on a given day, based on 17 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 265th most-seen of the 748 insects we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 10%, and over a week to about 30%, if each day is a fresh chance.
November to March
In those months about 10% of wildlife watchers report an African Moon Moth in Kruger National Park on a given day, against under 5% in April to October, the lowest months. Those are among Kruger National Park's wettest months, with about 75 mm of rain a month against almost none in August.
Between 4 and 7 am
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most African Moon Moth sightings with a recorded time, and about 7 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is most active around dawn and dusk.
Among the best
Of the 2 parks where we can rate African Moon Moth sightings, Kruger National Park ranks 2nd at about 10%, level with the leaders once rounded. The best odds are in iSimangaliso Wetland Park (South Africa, about 10%).
Same family: Saturniidae
The closest relatives of the African Moon Moth that you can see in Kruger National Park (family Saturniidae, Emperor and Giant Silk Moths) are Speckled Emperor (about 10%), Mopane Worm (about 10%) and Eastern Marbled Emperor (about 10%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the African Moon Moth is recorded against all the insects logged in Kruger National Park (17 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.
