Asaphodes aegrota
In 3 days ~40% in a week ~70%
Asaphodes aegrota, also known as the dull brown looper, is a species of moth in the family Geometridae. It was first described by Arthur Gardiner Butler in 1879 as Selidosema aegrota. It is endemic to New Zealand and can be found in the North, South and Stewart Islands. This species inhabits open spaces in lowland native forest. The larvae of A. aegrota feed on native herbs and have also been observed feeding of the introduced lawn daisy. The adults are variable in appearance with the markings on both sides of its wings varying in intensity. Some populations also have narrow winged females. Adults are on the wing from November until March.
This species was first described by Arthur Gardiner Butler in 1879 using specimens collected at Wairarapa by F. W. Hutton and named Selidosema aegrota. George Hudson discussed and illustrated this species under the name Xanthorhoe aegrota in 1898 and again in 1928. In 1939 Louis Beethoven Prout placed this species in the genus Larentia. This placement was not accepted by New Zealand taxonomists. In 1971 John S. Dugdale placed this species in the genus Asaphodes. In 1988 Dugdale confirmed this placement in his catalogue of New Zealand... Wikipedia →
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rakiura National Park | 🇳🇿 New Zealand | |
| 2 | Egmont National Park | 🇳🇿 New Zealand | |
| 3 | Fiordland National Park | 🇳🇿 New Zealand |
With luck
About 10% of wildlife watchers report an Asaphodes aegrota sighting in Rakiura National Park on a given day, based on 16 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 48th most-seen of the 118 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.
April and November
In those months about 30% of wildlife watchers report an Asaphodes aegrota in Rakiura National Park on a given day, against under 5% in March and May–September, the lowest months.
Between 9 pm and midnight
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Asaphodes aegrota 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.
Yes
Of the 3 parks where we can rate Asaphodes aegrota sightings, Rakiura National Park has the highest daily chance: about 10%. Next come Egmont National Park (New Zealand, about 10%) and Fiordland National Park (New Zealand, about 10%).
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Asaphodes aegrota is recorded against all the insects logged in Rakiura National Park (16 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.
