Glaucocharis pyrsophanes

Glaucocharis pyrsophanes

Glaucocharis pyrsophanes

Endemic
Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck
at Rakiura National Park

In 3 days ~20% in a week ~50%

7 Verified sightings at Rakiura National Park From 2019 to 2026
16 In all 2 parks
December Best month
🌙 Nocturnal When it's spotted

About the Glaucocharis pyrsophanes

Glaucocharis pyrsophanes is a moth in the family Crambidae. It was described by Edward Meyrick in 1882. It is endemic to New Zealand and is found throughout the country including the North, South and Stewart Islands. It inhabits native forest from lowland and subalpine altitudes. It is said to be common in sunny but damp forest openings. Larvae of Glaucocharis species feed on mosses and liverworts. Adults are on the wing from October until February. They are known to feed from and pollinate Leptospermum scoparium and Helichrysum selago.

This species was first described by Edward Meyrick in 1882 and named Diptychophora pyrsophanes. Meyrick gave a fuller description of this species in 1883. George Hudson discussed and illustrated this species under that name in his 1928 book The butterflies and moths of New Zealand. In 1971 David Edward Gaskin placed this species in the genus Pareromene. However, in 1985 Gaskin recognised that Glaucocharis must take precedence over Pareromene and placed G. pyrsophanes into that genus. The female lectotype, collected at the Wellington Botanic Garden by Meyrick, is held at the Natural History Museum, London.

Meyrick described... Wikipedia →

Global Distribution

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Daily sighting probability
1 Rakiura National Park 🇳🇿 New Zealand
~10%
2 Fiordland National Park 🇳🇿 New Zealand
~10%

Before you go

What are the chances of seeing a Glaucocharis pyrsophanes in Rakiura National Park?

With luck

About 10% of wildlife watchers report a Glaucocharis pyrsophanes sighting in Rakiura National Park on a given day, based on 7 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 103rd most-seen of the 118 insects we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 20%, and over a week to about 50%, if each day is a fresh chance.

When is the best time to see a Glaucocharis pyrsophanes in Rakiura National Park?

December

In that month about 20% of wildlife watchers report a Glaucocharis pyrsophanes in Rakiura National Park on a given day, against under 5% in January to October, the lowest months.

What time of day is best to see a Glaucocharis pyrsophanes?

Between 10 pm and 1 am

Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Glaucocharis pyrsophanes 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.

Is Rakiura National Park the best place to see a Glaucocharis pyrsophanes?

Yes

Of the 2 parks where we can rate Glaucocharis pyrsophanes sightings, Rakiura National Park has the highest daily chance: about 10%. Next come Fiordland National Park (New Zealand, about 10%).

Where does the Glaucocharis pyrsophanes sighting chance come from?

GBIF citizen-science records

It is estimated from how often the Glaucocharis pyrsophanes is recorded against all the insects logged in Rakiura National Park (7 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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