Pholodes sinistraria
In 3 days ~20% in a week ~40%
Pholodes sinistraria, the sinister moth or frilled bark moth, is a moth of the family Geometridae. The species was first described by Achille Guenée in 1857. It is found in the eastern parts of Australia. The wingspan is about 50 mm for males and 60 mm for females.
The larvae feed on a wide range of plants, including Rosa odorata, Camellia japonica, Persea americana, Citrus unshiu, Cassia species, Ricinus communis, Acacia species and Acmena smithii. Furthermore, it is considered a pest on Macadamia integrifolia. Wikipedia →
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Blue Mountains National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 2 | Royal National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia |
With luck
About 10% of wildlife watchers report a Sinister Moth sighting in Royal National Park on a given day, based on 5 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 147th most-seen of the 175 insects we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 20%, and over a week to about 40%, if each day is a fresh chance.
February, June, September and November
In those months about 10% of wildlife watchers report a Sinister Moth in Royal National Park on a given day, against under 5% in March–May, July–August, October and December–January, the lowest months.
Between 9 am and noon
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Sinister Moth sightings with a recorded time, and about 8 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.
Among the best
Of the 2 parks where we can rate Sinister Moth sightings, Royal National Park ranks 2nd at about 10%, level with the leaders once rounded. The best odds are in Blue Mountains National Park (Australia, about 10%).
Same family: Geometridae
The closest relatives of the Sinister Moth that you can see in Royal National Park (family Geometridae, Geometer Moths) are Fallen Bark Looper (about 10%), Neat Epidesmia (about 10%) and Red-Lined Looper (about 10%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Sinister Moth is recorded against all the insects logged in Royal National Park (5 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.
