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Post by teejay on Jul 6, 2024 15:33:38 GMT
I found it laying in my yard. I've never seen this color pattern before. Wondering if it's unique or common. imgur.com/a/gRvNqeY
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Post by Adam Cotton on Jul 6, 2024 19:35:22 GMT
Where in the world is your yard?
It is a female moth, but I don't know which species.
Adam.
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Post by teejay on Jul 6, 2024 22:08:36 GMT
I'm in southern Virginia. I can safely say I've never seen one like that before.
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Post by bobw on Jul 7, 2024 9:23:15 GMT
It looks like Hypercompe scribonia, the giant leopard moth, family Arctiidae.
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Post by Adam Cotton on Jul 7, 2024 9:48:38 GMT
Under recent classification based on DNA sequencing Arctiidae has been 'downgraded' to a subfamily (Arctiinae) in family Erebidae. Here's the Wikipedia entry for this species with more information for teejay: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giant_leopard_mothAdam.
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Post by vabrou on Jul 7, 2024 20:26:44 GMT
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Post by teejay on Jul 8, 2024 21:10:56 GMT
Thanks for the links. From the wiki link that Adam posted, it appears that they are only found in certain parts of the country. I don't know how one ended up in VA.
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Post by alandmor on Jul 10, 2024 16:04:32 GMT
Thanks for the links. From the wiki link that Adam posted, it appears that they are only found in certain parts of the country. I don't know how one ended up in VA. According to the Wikipedia link: "They are distributed through North America from southern Ontario, and southern and eastern United States through New England, Mexico, and south to Colombia." Virginia is well within its reported range. iNaturalist has over 2,000 observations for this species in Virginia so not uncommon.
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