Moths of North Carolina
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Hypercompe Members:
198 NC Records

Hypercompe scribonia (Stoll, [1790]) - Giant Leopard Moth


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Taxonomy
Superfamily: Noctuoidea Family: ErebidaeSubfamily: ArctiinaeTribe: ArctiiniP3 Number: 930323.00 MONA Number: 8146.00 MONA Synonym: Ecpantheria scribonia
Comments: One of six species in this genus that occurs in North America and the only one found in our area
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Covell (1984; as Ecpantheria scribonia); Beadle and Leckie (2012)Online Photographs: MPG, BugGuide, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Adults: Forbes (1960)Technical Description, Immature Stages: Forbes (1960); Wagner (2005)                                                                                 
Adult Markings: The large white adults with black or blue ringed-shaped spots on the forewings and thorax and blue and orange colored abdomens are unmistakable.
Adult ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos of unworn specimens.
Immatures and Development: Late instar larvae are large, and bristly black, with red spiracles and prominent red or brown inter-segmental rings (Forbes, 1960; Wagner, 2005); earlier instars may be colored dark brown and orange (Wagner, 2005). The bristles are stiffer than in Spilosoma species, some forms of which may be blackish and have red markings (e.g., S. congrua -- see Wagner, 2005). Grammia virgo also have large, black, bristly larvae with reddish spiracles but have tan setal warts rather than the dark brown warts found in Hypercompe (Wagner, 2005).
Larvae ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos, especially where associated with known host plants.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: Probably occurs statewide
County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.
Flight Dates:
 High Mountains (HM) ≥ 4,000 ft.
 Low Mountains (LM) < 4,000 ft.
 Piedmont (Pd)
 Coastal Plain (CP)

Click on graph to enlarge
Immature Dates:
 High Mountains (HM) ≥ 4,000 ft.
 Low Mountains (LM) < 4,000 ft.
 Piedmont (Pd)
 Coastal Plain (CP)

Click on graph to enlarge
Flight Comments: Possibly single-brooded in the Mountains, but may be continuously present during the growing season in the Coastal Plain; more data are needed to determine if there are distinct peaks in adult activity
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: We have records from a variety of habitats, including barrier island dunes and maritime forests; riparian and lakeshore hardwood forests; and dry Piedmont and Mountain ridges. We lack records, however, from Longleaf Pine savannas and flatwoods, as well as pocosins and pond pine woodlands, indicating that it may not be adapted to fire-maintained habitats.
Larval Host Plants: Polyphagous, feeding on a large variety of both herbaceous and woody plants (Forbes, 1960; Wagner, 2005) - View
Observation Methods: Appears to come only moderately to blacklights, mostly as single individuals. Wagner (2005) says that it is only the males that commonly show up at lights. Not recorded at bait.
Wikipedia
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status:
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: G5 [S5]
State Protection: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands
Comments: Although we are not certain about the abundance of this species and the adequacy of sampling methods, it occurs throughout the state and uses a wide variety of habitats, including residential areas, making it appear to be fairly secure.

 Photo Gallery for Hypercompe scribonia - Giant Leopard Moth

142 photos are available. Only the most recent 30 are shown.

Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-04-21
Brunswick Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-04-21
Brunswick Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Stephen Dunn, Jeff Niznik, Larry Chen, Sarah Toner on 2024-04-19
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Andrew W. Jones on 2024-03-27
Polk Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2024-01-08
Wake Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2024-01-08
Wake Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Sapre on 2023-12-24
Carteret Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: David George on 2023-09-10
Orange Co.
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Recorded by: R. Newman on 2023-08-23
Carteret Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: K. Bischof on 2023-08-11
Transylvania Co.
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Recorded by: Stephen Dunn on 2023-08-07
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Becky Elkin and Tony McBride on 2023-07-23
Madison Co.
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Recorded by: K. Bischof on 2023-07-19
Transylvania Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Dean Furbish and Joy Wiggins on 2023-07-11
Wake Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Stephen Dunn on 2023-07-02
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Lori Owenby, Ed Corey, Brian Bockhahn, David George on 2023-06-17
Avery Co.
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Recorded by: Dean Furbish on 2023-06-05
Wake Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: James Ready on 2023-05-29
Yancey Co.
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Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik, Rich Teper on 2023-05-21
New Hanover Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jerry Thompson on 2022-10-15
Johnston Co.
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Recorded by: Jerry Thompson on 2022-10-15
Johnston Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jerry Thompson on 2022-10-15
Johnston Co.
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Recorded by: Eliza Murphy on 2022-09-16
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Eliza Murphy on 2022-09-16
Orange Co.
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Recorded by: John Petranka on 2022-08-31
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2022-07-15
Madison Co.
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Recorded by: David George, L. M. Carlson on 2022-07-03
Orange Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: David George, L. M. Carlson on 2022-07-02
Chatham Co.
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Recorded by: Richard Teper on 2022-06-26
Avery Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: David George, L. M. Carlson on 2022-06-26
Orange Co.
Comment: