Great Leopard Moth
Scientific Name: Hypercompe scribonia
Order & Family: Lepidoptera: Erebidae
Size: Wingspan of 76 mm (3 in) and length of 50 mm (2 in)
Natural Habitat
Farmland, gardens, and woodlands throughout North America
Diet & Feeding
Larvae eat various broadleaf plants like dandelion and plantain; adults do not feed
Behavior Patterns
Nocturnal; larvae (Giant Woolly Bears) hibernate in winter and emerge to pupate in spring
Risks & Benefits
Harmless to humans; larvae are generalist herbivores and serve as food for birds and mammals
Identified on: 2/25/2026