Aiolocaria hexaspilota

Aiolocaria hexaspilota

Aiolocaria hexaspilota

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible
at Nikko National Park

In 3 days ~40% in a week ~70%

5 Verified sightings at Nikko National Park From 2019 to 2026
19 In all 2 parks
November Best month
☀️ Diurnal When it's spotted

About the Aiolocaria hexaspilota

Aiolocaria hexaspilota is a beetle species from the lady beetle family (Coccinellidae); adults can be as large as 13mm long. The species’ scientific name was first given in an 1831 publication by Frederick William Hope. Unaware of its previous identification, Victor Motschulsky was later to call the same species as Aiolocaria mirabilis (in 1860). In most cases of such synonymy, according to the Encyclopedia of Life, “the first name takes priority and is considered to be the valid or accepted name.”

Entomologists Ivo Hodek (Czech Institute of Entomology) and Edward W. Evans (Utah State University) describe the species as “a specialized predator of chrysomelids.” Entomologist G. I. Savoiskaya has observed Aiolocaria hexaspilota actively pursuing larval prey.

Ivo Hodek has also described the species as univoltine (having one brood per year); in early autumn they migrate from sun-exposed forest habitat “to well-insolated slopes of rocky hills or also to buildings.” Seeking winter shelter in rocky crevices or, opportunistically, in human dwellings, the beetles will cluster in aggregations of up to several hundred individuals. Hodek notes that by clustering together they maintain a temperature “much higher than ambient” and that in the spring the adults mate and disperse. Wikipedia →

Global Distribution

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Daily sighting probability
1 Nikko National Park 🇯🇵 Japan
~20%
2 Taroko National Park 🇹🇼 Taiwan
~10%

Cities Where Found

# City Country Daily sighting probability
1 Daejeon 🇰🇷 South Korea
~20%
2 Sapporo 🇯🇵 Japan
~10%
3 Seoul 🇰🇷 South Korea
~10%
4 Tokyo 🇯🇵 Japan
<5%

Before you go

What are the chances of seeing an Aiolocaria hexaspilota in Nikko National Park?

Possible

About 20% of wildlife watchers report an Aiolocaria hexaspilota sighting in Nikko National Park on a given day, based on 5 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 53rd most-seen of the 86 insects we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 40%, and over a week to about 70%, if each day is a fresh chance.

When is the best time to see an Aiolocaria hexaspilota in Nikko National Park?

November

In that month about 40% of wildlife watchers report an Aiolocaria hexaspilota in Nikko National Park on a given day, against under 5% in February–March, July–October and December, the lowest months.

What time of day is best to see an Aiolocaria hexaspilota?

Between 11 am and 2 pm

Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Aiolocaria hexaspilota 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 Nikko National Park the best place to see an Aiolocaria hexaspilota?

Yes

Of the 2 parks where we can rate Aiolocaria hexaspilota sightings, Nikko National Park has the highest daily chance: about 20%. Next come Taroko National Park (Taiwan, about 10%).

Which relatives of the Aiolocaria hexaspilota live in Nikko National Park?

Same family: Coccinellidae

The closest relatives of the Aiolocaria hexaspilota that you can see in Nikko National Park (family Coccinellidae, Lady Beetles) are Asian Lady Beetle (about 30%) and Anatis halonis (about 20%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.

Where does the Aiolocaria hexaspilota sighting chance come from?

GBIF citizen-science records

It is estimated from how often the Aiolocaria hexaspilota is recorded against all the insects logged in Nikko National 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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