Ichneutica sulcana
In 3 days ~40% in a week ~70%
Ichneutica sulcana, the dark underwing wainscot, is a moth of the family Noctuidae. It is endemic to New Zealand and can be found throughout the North, South and Stewart Islands at a range of altitudes from the lowlands to the alpine zone. This species prefers to live in native grass, shrub and wetland habitats as well as in native forest. The larval host plants of this species are forest grasses and sedges and larvae have been reared on Microlaena avenacea and species within the genus Carex. The larva pupates in the soil. Adults are on the wing from December to May but have also been recorded in August and September in the northern parts of the North Island. They are attracted to sugar traps as well as to light. I. sulcana and I. supersulcana are very similar in appearance but can be distinguished as there are differences in the male abdomen and genitalia of the two species. Also these two species do not appear to share a range as I. supersulcana seems to prefer to live at higher altitudes than I. sulcana. I. sulcana might also be confused with I. semivittata but I. sulcana is a larger species with a much darker abdomen and hindwing, and has only 1 to 3 dots on the forewing postmedian line. Wikipedia →
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rakiura National Park | 🇳🇿 New Zealand | |
| 2 | Fiordland National Park | 🇳🇿 New Zealand |
With luck
About 10% of wildlife watchers report a Dark Underwing Wainscot sighting in Rakiura National Park on a given day, based on 19 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.
January
In that month about 30% of wildlife watchers report a Dark Underwing Wainscot in Rakiura National Park on a given day, against under 5% in April–September and November–December, the lowest months.
Between 10 pm and 1 am
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Dark Underwing Wainscot sightings with a recorded time, and about half of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is seen both by day and at night.
Yes
Of the 2 parks where we can rate Dark Underwing Wainscot sightings, Rakiura National Park has the highest daily chance: about 10%. Next come Fiordland National Park (New Zealand, about 10%).
Same genus: Ichneutica
The closest relatives of the Dark Underwing Wainscot that you can see in Rakiura National Park (genus Ichneutica) are New Zealand Cutworm (about 30%), Ichneutica atristriga (about 20%) and Ichneutica mollis (about 20%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Dark Underwing Wainscot is recorded against all the insects logged in Rakiura National Park (19 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.
