Giant Leopard Moth Hypercompe scribonia (Stoll, 1790)    Synonyms: Ecpantheria scribonia, Eyed Tiger Moth, Great Leopard Moth, Hodges #8146, Phalaena scribonia.
Kingdom Animalia   >   Phylum Arthropoda   >   Class Insecta   >   Order Lepidoptera   >   Family Erebidae   >   Genus Hypercompe   

Status:

An eastern U.S. species. Overwinters as a caterpillar.

Description:

Distinctive. Compare Wood Leopard Moth. When disturbed, can emit yellow drops of chemical defense from thorax.

There are 600 records in the project database.

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A Giant Leopard Moth in Harford Co., Maryland (7/20/2014). Photo by Mike Burchett. (MBP list)

A Giant Leopard Moth in Harford Co., Maryland (7/21/2014). Photo by Mike Burchett. (MBP list)

A Giant Leopard Moth in Cecil Co., Maryland (7/3/2017). Photo by Shannon Schade. (MBP list)

A male Giant Leopard Moth in Pasadena, Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (6/15/2007). We later watched the female deposit several hundred light green eggs. Photo by Bill Hubick. (MBP list)(More of this species)

A Giant Leopard Moth in Harford Co., Maryland (7/2/2019). Photo by Dave Webb. (MBP list)

A Giant Leopard Moth in Baltimore Co., Maryland (7/11/2020). Photo by Dave Webb. (MBP list)

A Giant Leopard Moth in Dorchester Co., Maryland (6/13/2015). Photo by Jonathan Willey. (MBP list)

Giant Leopard Moth in Allegany Co., Maryland (6/18/2017). (c) Timothy Reichard, all rights reserved. Photo by Timothy Reichard. (MBP list)

A Giant Leopard Moth in Frederick Co., Maryland (6/19/2018). Photo by Mark Etheridge. (MBP list)

Giant Leopard Moth in Allegany Co., Maryland (6/18/2017). (c) Timothy Reichard, all rights reserved. Photo by Timothy Reichard. (MBP list)

Giant Leopard Moth in Allegany Co., Maryland (6/18/2017). (c) Timothy Reichard, all rights reserved. Photo by Timothy Reichard. (MBP list)

A Giant Leopard Moth in Cecil Co., Maryland (6/28/2022). Photo by Dave Webb. (MBP list)

Giant Leopard Moth in Montgomery Co., Maryland (6/30/2021). (c) Wendy R Fredericks, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Wendy R. Fredericks. (MBP list)

A male Giant Leopard Moth in Pasadena, Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (6/15/2007). Close-up of it emitting a yellow drop of chemical defense from its thorax. Photo by Bill Hubick. (MBP list)(More of this species)

A Giant Leopard Moth in Harford Co., Maryland (7/2/2020). Photo by Dave Webb. (MBP list)

A Giant Leopard Moth in Howard Co., Maryland (7/6/2013). Photo by Grazina McClure. (MBP list)

A Giant Leopard Moth in Carroll Co., Maryland (6/27/2012). Photo by Anna Letaw. (MBP list)

A Giant Leopard Moth in Wicomico Co., Maryland (6/15/2015). Photo by Scott Housten. (MBP list)

A Giant Leopard Moth in Prince George's Co., Maryland (9/10/2010). Photo by Bob Patterson. (MBP list)

A Giant Leopard Moth in Calvert Co., Maryland (7/12/2005). Photo by Arlene Ripley. (MBP list)

A Giant Leopard Moth in Montgomery Co., Maryland (6/15/2005). Photo by R. Child. (MBP list)

A Giant Leopard Moth in Frederick Co., Maryland (6/30/2001). Photo by Mark Etheridge. (MBP list)

Giant Leopard Moths in Baltimore Co., Maryland (7/6/2020). Photo by Richard Crook. (MBP list)

Giant Leopard Moths mating in Montgomery Co., Maryland (6/20/2022). (c) mullenbooks, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by mullenbooks via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

A Giant Leopard Moth in St. Mary's Co., Maryland (9/5/2016). Photo by Jane Kostenko. (MBP list)

A male Giant Leopard Moth in Howard Co., Maryland (5/28/2004). Photo by Larry Line. (MBP list)

A Giant Leopard Moth larva in Baltimore Co., Maryland (1/4/2017). Photo by Emily Stanley. (MBP list)

A Giant Leopard Moth caterpillar in Harford Co., Maryland (10/8/2017). Photo by Mary Sweet. (MBP list)

Giant Leopard Moth in Frederick Co., Maryland (4/13/2021). (c) Mark Etheridge, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Mark Etheridge. (MBP list)

A Giant Leopard Moth caterpillar in Worcester Co., Maryland (4/11/2015). Photo by Scott Housten. (MBP list)

Giant Leopard Moth in Montgomery Co., Maryland (2/15/2018). (c) Paul G., some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Paul G. via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

A Giant Leopard Moth caterpillar in Baltimore Co., Maryland (10/3/2013). This individual was found roosting for the day under a plywood board in a field. Caterpillars emerge from these day roosts to feed at night. Photo by Bill Hubick. (MBP list)

A Giant Leopard Moth caterpillar in Prince George's Co., Maryland (9/23/2014). Photo by Christopher Polhemus. (MBP list)

A Giant Leopard Moth caterpillar in Montgomery Co., Maryland (7/7/2013). Photo by Max Wilson. (MBP list)

A Giant Leopard Moth caterpillar in Howard Co., Maryland (10/25/2015). Photo by Mike Kerwin. (MBP list)

A Giant Leopard Moth caterpillar falls prey to a Virginia Opossum in Prince George's Co., Maryland (1/30/2021). (c) Sergei Drovetski, all rights reserved. Photo by Sergei Drovetski. (MBP list)

A Giant Leopard Moth caterpillar falls prey to a Virginia Opossum in Prince George's Co., Maryland (1/30/2021). (c) Sergei Drovetski, all rights reserved. Photo by Sergei Drovetski. (MBP list)

A newly eclosed Giant Leopard Moth in Baltimore Co., Maryland (7/17/2021). Photo by Richard Crook. (MBP list)

A Giant Leopard Moth caterpillar (early instar) in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (7/17/2004). Photo by Sara Tangren. (MBP list)

Giant Leopard Moth in Calvert Co., Maryland (7/13/2004). Photo by Arlene Ripley. (MBP list)

Giant Leopard Moth in Calvert Co., Maryland (7/11/2021). (c) pgwamsley, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by pgwamsley via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

A comparison of Wood Leopard Moth (left) and Giant Leopard Moth (right) at Andelot Farm, Kent Co., Maryland (6/7/2014). Photo by Bill Hubick. (MBP list)

A comparison of Wood Leopard Moth (above) and Giant Leopard Moth (below) at Andelot Farm, Kent Co., Maryland (6/7/2014). Photo by Bill Hubick. (MBP list)


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