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Giant Leopard Moth

Hypercompe scribonia

Description:

The Giant Leopard Moth or Eyed Tiger Moth (Hypercompe scribonia) is a moth of the family Arctiidae. It is distributed throughout the Southern and Eastern United States from New England to Mexico. The obsolete name Ecpantheria scribonia is still occasionally encountered. This species has a wingspan of 3 inches (nearly 8 cm). The wings of this moth are bright white with a pattern of neat black blotches, some solid and some hollow. The abdomen is dark blue with orange markings, the male has a narrow yellow line on the sides. Its legs have black and white bands. Adult moths are strictly nocturnal and do not generally fly before nightfall (Fullard & Napoleone 2001). The caterpillar is of the "Woolly Bear" kind, with a thick coat of black bristles (setae) and red or orange colored bands between its segments which become conspicuous when caterpillar rolls into a ball for defense.

1 Species ID Suggestions

keithp2012
keithp2012 12 years ago
Giant Leopard Moth
None


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1 Comment

EricEllison
EricEllison 12 years ago

join my caterpillar mission if you'd like. http://www.projectnoah.org/missions/9420...

o_rissa
Spotted by
o_rissa

Loves Park, Illinois, USA

Spotted on Oct 15, 2011
Submitted on Oct 15, 2011

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