About four weeks ago we found a woolly bear caterpillar being used as a velcro hockey puck by our local feral kitty, and made rescue. After some great research and setup we placed him in a small enclosure with natural surroundings. We fed him a steady diet of collards, romaine, and spinach. I anxiously awaited the mothy Christmas to come! Being that our woolly bear was obviously in his late spring larval calorie gathering mode, I knew the time was short before we must wish her farewell. The caterpillar began feverishly building a cocoon three weeks ago, and was finished in 48 hours! After two weeks of waiting this gorgeous fully colored Leopard Moth appeared! I have resumed feeding her and nightly placing her outside to attract a mate, so we may keep the moth soap opera ongoing. updates may follow assuming my precious moth is not predated or willfully journeyed on her own.
*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 rather 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 bands between its segments which become conspicuous when caterpillar rolls into a ball for defense. It should not be touched, as its setae may break off and cause a rash.
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