Size
wingspan 50-60 mm (female); 35-40 mm (male)
Identification
Adult: white with black spots. Spots more numerous and smaller than those of Giant Leopard Moth, and none of the spots are hollow. Legs all black.
Caterpillar is smooth, orange with black spots. See
Forestry Images for pictures.
Range
northeastern United States, mostly along Atlantic coast
Food
larvae feed on leaves of many species of deciduous trees and shrubs
Remarks
Unlike the Giant Leopard Moth, this one is not native to the US. Supposedly introduced (from its native Europe?) in mid-1800s; first reported in North America at Hoboken, New Jersey in 1882.
See Also
Giant Leopard Moth (
Hypercompe scribonia) forewing has at least some hollow spots, and legs contain much white (not all black)
See
here for side by side images by John Himmelman.
Internet References
species account with lots of information, and links to live images of all life stages (Pierre Zagatti, France)
pinned adult image by James Solomon, plus species account in North America (forestpests.org)
Moths of Maryland adult images and info
