Common Grass Moth

Common Grass Moth

Orocrambus flexuosellus

Endemic
Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible
at Rakiura National Park

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

23 Verified sightings at Rakiura National Park From 2019 to 2026
64 In all 5 parks
January Best month
🌅 Crepuscular When it's spotted

About the Common Grass Moth

Orocrambus flexuosellus is a species of moth in the family Crambidae. It was first described by Edward Doubleday in 1843. O. flexuosellus is endemic to New Zealand. It has been recorded from the North Island, South Island and the Stewart Islands. The species' habitat consists of lowland to alpine grasslands.

The wingspan is 19–26 mm. Adults have been recorded on wing from November to February. Adults are nocturnal but are easily disturbed during daylight hours. The larvae are polyphagous, feeding on various grasses and sedges. Adults are attracted to light and have been collected via a mercury vapour light trap. The adult moths have been shown to pollinate Cassinia fulvida, Dracophyllum acerosum, Hoheria lyallii and Olearia virgata. Wikipedia →

Global Distribution

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Daily sighting probability
1 Rakiura National Park 🇳🇿 New Zealand
~20%
2 Egmont National Park 🇳🇿 New Zealand
~10%
3 Arthur's Pass National Park 🇳🇿 New Zealand
~10%
4 Fiordland National Park 🇳🇿 New Zealand
~10%
5 Abel Tasman National Park 🇳🇿 New Zealand
~10%

Cities Where Found

# City Country Daily sighting probability
1 Auckland 🇳🇿 New Zealand
~20%

Before you go

What are the chances of seeing a Common Grass Moth in Rakiura National Park?

Possible

About 20% of wildlife watchers report a Common Grass Moth sighting in Rakiura National Park on a given day, based on 23 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 30th 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.

When is the best time to see a Common Grass Moth in Rakiura National Park?

January

In that month about 30% of wildlife watchers report a Common Grass Moth in Rakiura National Park on a given day, against under 5% in April to November, the lowest months.

What time of day is best to see a Common Grass Moth?

Between 9 pm and midnight

Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Common Grass Moth sightings with a recorded time, and about 6 in 10 of them come between 6 pm and 6 am: it is most active around dawn and dusk.

Is Rakiura National Park the best place to see a Common Grass Moth?

Yes

Of the 5 parks where we can rate Common Grass Moth sightings, Rakiura National Park has the highest daily chance: about 20%. Next come Egmont National Park (New Zealand, about 10%) and Arthur's Pass National Park (New Zealand, about 10%).

Which relatives of the Common Grass Moth live in Rakiura National Park?

Same family: Crambidae

The closest relatives of the Common Grass Moth that you can see in Rakiura National Park (family Crambidae, Crambid Snout Moths) are Scoparia halopis (about 20%), Eudonia philerga (about 20%) and Eudonia octophora (about 20%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.

Where does the Common Grass Moth sighting chance come from?

GBIF citizen-science records

It is estimated from how often the Common Grass Moth is recorded against all the insects logged in Rakiura National Park (23 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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