An elusive but beautifully patterned moth. The giant leopard moth is a large white moth that is easy to identify. The forewings have numerous black spots, many with hollow (white) centers. Some of the dark markings are iridescent blue in the light. The hindwing is shaded with black along the inner edge and has spots near the outer tip. The caterpillar is of the “woolly bear” kind, with a thick coat of black bristles and red or orange bands between its segments.
larvae feed on a great variety of broad-leaved plants, including banana, cabbage, cherry, dandelion, maple, orange, sunflower, violet, willow
Adult moths are strictly nocturnal and do not generally fly before nightfall. When most people see giant leopard moths, they are usually seeing males that are attracted to lights at night.
Moths are important pollinators and their larvae are food for birds and other animals
Least Concern
