Tarata Looper

Tarata Looper

Xyridacma ustaria

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

In 3 days ~30% in a week ~50%

6 Verified sightings at Rakiura National Park From 2019 to 2026
15 In all 2 parks
June Best month
🌅 Crepuscular When it's spotted

About the Tarata Looper

Xyridacma ustaria is a moth of the family Geometridae. It was first described by Francis Walker in 1863 from specimens obtained in Auckland. It is endemic to New Zealand. X. ustaria has been found on Codfish Island in May with larvae recorded on Pittosporum tenuifolium. It has also been found at Paroa in February as well as in Canterbury. 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%

Cities Where Found

# City Country Daily sighting probability
1 Auckland 🇳🇿 New Zealand
~10%

Before you go

What are the chances of seeing a Tarata Looper in Rakiura National Park?

With luck

About 10% of wildlife watchers report a Tarata Looper sighting in Rakiura National Park on a given day, based on 6 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 88th most-seen of the 118 insects we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 30%, and over a week to about 50%, if each day is a fresh chance.

When is the best time to see a Tarata Looper in Rakiura National Park?

June

In that month about 30% of wildlife watchers report a Tarata Looper in Rakiura National Park on a given day, against under 5% in January–February, May, July–September and November, the lowest months.

What time of day is best to see a Tarata Looper?

Between 6 and 9 am

Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Tarata Looper sightings with a recorded time, and about half 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 Tarata Looper?

Yes

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

Where does the Tarata Looper sighting chance come from?

GBIF citizen-science records

It is estimated from how often the Tarata Looper is recorded against all the insects logged in Rakiura National Park (6 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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