This week: Creepy Crawly Giant Leopard Moths
Hello,
Signs of spring are everywhere! My front garden has one daffodil already in bloom with more on the way, and the maple trees are flowering. I also got out for a hike and saw today’s topic: a Giant Leopard Moth (Hypercompe scribonia) caterpillar.
This black, bristly caterpillar is sometimes confused for the similarly prickly Woolly Bear caterpillar (Isabella Tiger Moth), but they aren’t related. Instead, this caterpillar becomes the three-inch Giant Leopard Moth—white with black spots and a nocturnal habit.
But enough about the grown-up version. The Giant Leopard Moth caterpillar can be found in the fall, winter, and early spring in leaf litter, munching on foliage to fatten up before it spins into a cocoon. It can survive the winter because it goes dormant in response to environmental conditions (technical jargon: diapause). By the time it is ready for its pupa state, it is two to three inches long.
When this caterpillar feels threatened, it curls into a ball—an unappealing snack for predators like hungry birds and small mammals. You might notice red bands in this form—another signal to stay away. However, this creature isn’t poisonous to humans. It is a beneficial member of the food web: a nutritious bite when it is a caterpillar or moth, and a nighttime flower pollinator.
Giant Leopard Moth caterpillars make their chrysalis in the spring and emerge as moths in May and June, so now is a good time to spot them prowling around for food. Take note!
Elsewhere:
When’s the last time you encountered a weasel? One recently showed up outside an Italian restaurant in Luzerne County, PA and was caught on video.
Have a good week,
Julie