Wednesday, August 5, 2009

A Cool Vistor In the Garden: The Leopard Moth


We recently had a really cool visitor to Tiger Gardens. Or should say we had a really cool visitor to Leopard Gardens?

The above pictured moth is a leopard moth. It is quite large and really makes one look twice. It is not quite as large as a luna moth, but at about 2 inches long it makes a pretty good impression.

Such was the case when my friend's seven year old daughter spotted the moth. She insisted I snap a picture; which I did.

Here it is for you all to see. These moths are quite common but I tell you I was quite awed to see one in person. Common or not, I'd not seen one before.

Has anyone else seen leopard moths.....

in the garden....

41 comments:

  1. Wow, that looks awesome. I am going to google it to see what the caterpillars look like and what they like to eat.

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  2. I have not seen this moth, quite impressive looking!

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  3. That's what I think the fuzzy black caterpillars that ate the fern become! I was hoping to see one, but have not yet. Thanks so much for the picture Tina!!

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  4. What a cool moth. I am glad you took a picture to share with the rest of us.

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  5. So glad to see it, Tina. Beautiful pattern...or should I say ...spots?!

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  6. Wow! Just from a fashion show! Never seen it before!

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  7. Tina girl that is simply amazing !
    I have never seen one here or anywhere looking like that .. it is beautiful !! Can you ship one to me please ?? LOL .. I wonder if there are any in Canada at all ?
    Joy : )

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  8. Very pretty, we've had two luna moths out here this year. And, I thought they were cool --this guy has them beat hands down. Nice picture! Have a good day all --lil bundle is needing me, ciao!

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  9. I've never seen one before either! I'm glad you shared it with us.

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  10. That is sooo cool. I wonder if it is native. I think I Bing it. H.

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  11. WOW! That's amazing! I've never seen one before either. I love his/her spots!!

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  12. Very neat moth! I don't think I've seen one like it before.

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  13. Tina, I have never seen a Leopard Moth before! It has amazing color and hope I too get to see one with my own eyes some day.

    I saw a really cute snake (garter I think) in a flower bed yesterday evening. It was too quick for me to snap a pic of it. This morning I went to pull a weed in the same bed and the snake came slithering up from the grass and back into the planter as if to say, “hey, you get away, this is my planter” LOL I ran to get the camera but he hide from me again. I looked for it until I started to melt from the humidity...

    Busy Day for me today. Everyone have a great day!

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  14. That is a beauty! I can honestly say I have never seen anything like it. Good find!

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  15. No, but I wish I have! My daughter HATES moths with a passion. I think she was traumatized as a child when a neighbor threw some flying bugs in her face. I am afraid of spiders, I just can't understand fear of moths though. What's not to like?
    Rosey

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  16. Wow, that really is a cool moth. My cat Fiona likes to chase grasshoppers and I let her. I haven't seen her try to catch moths or butterflies... I think she understands the garden! ;-)

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  17. I've never seen this kind of moth before--what a find! And even more amazing that you were able to get a photo of it. The butterflies are slowing arriving here, but they're still very shy.

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  18. Good morning all! Another 1.5 of rain last night-WUNDERBAR!

    Les, I'm sure you have some too! They feed primarily on citrus but also brugs, euphorbia, helianthus, magnolia, honeysuckle, salix, viola...I have all here so they must be happy.

    Darla, Yes indeed!

    Linda, You may be right! The leopard moths are in the Tiger moth family I think so the cats should be similar. Don't touch the cats!

    Janet, I'm glad too and almost didn't.

    Kanak, Spots for sure!

    Tatyana, It is awesome indeed!

    Joy, It's full range is the Eastern U.S. so it may find it's way to your area. Not sure. I'll nudge it your way okay?:)

    Anonymous, Those lunas are something else! I love those pretties!

    Jamie and Randy, My pleasure!

    Helen, It has a wide range but I'm not sure if it's native. I was surprised it is considered quite common.

    Lzyjo, Spots everywhere for sure. You should see it in person. Quite cool.

    Dave, They are fairly common so look around for it. Glad I could share it.

    Skeeter, They are common so keep your eyes peeled. My friend's 7 year old daughter actually spotted it-no pun intended. She has a good eye.

    Heather, It is most cool for sure.

    Rosey, That's awful for your daughter. Maybe she'll outgrow her fear. Tell her how beneficial bugs are and explain that without them we'd not have all the beauty we have in this world.

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  19. Rose, I think it was toward the end of its lifespan. It was resting on a chair as if it were tired:)

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  20. Cool moth, I can see how it blends.
    Not to many butterflies or moths this year, I think the rain and cool temps have cause havoc woth them.

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  21. Never seen or heard of this moth. What a striking creature. He almost doesn't look real with all those pen and ink circles. Like an artist's imaginary moth;)
    Marnie

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  22. Dawn, Probably next year you'll have tons of insects with all the rain you've had this year. Hang in there maybe you'll have a summer after all.

    Marnie, I sure am glad I posted this as I had no idea so many had not seen this moth. I knew I hadn't but for sure some would have-you especially as I know how much you love the birds and butterflies and nature. It is a cool moth. Quite pretty.

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  23. Tina,

    Oh how beautiful! I've never seen one. Just amazing!

    Cameron

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  24. Never have I seen a leopard but would like to have a yard full. I checked it out in the book Skeeter sent me and it does start as a black hairy caterpilar. It also is in southeastern Canada down through eastern US toward Mexico. It also says they are generally common but not sure that is correct since none of us seem to have seen it before. Lucky you Tina!!!

    Love my book Skeeter and come in to check it often but Dawn is right as there does not seem to be as many of them fluttering around this year.

    Tina, Barbara and her friend came yesterday and we had a great visit. Very sweet people. She also agreeded with me that my tomatoes have blight. :( Guess today I will pull them and bag them up for disposal. How sad is that?

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  25. I never have see one, very neat looking! It almost looks unreal, like someone drew little black circles all over it.

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  26. Cameron, Look for them in your garden I bet you'll find one. The cats are black woolly guys.

    Mom, How cool is that that Barbara came to visit? So glad you had a good visit. I don't know much about blight on tomatoes-guess I'll research it. Do what you have to do but take solace in all the other crops you have! Maybe Joy will find one in her garden since the range is so large.

    Catherine, It does look unreal for sure.

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  27. I deleted the above post. I think the heat is getting to me. lol

    I have seen Leopard Moths before but not very often. They are very beautiful.

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  28. I've never seen one of these either. It's pretty spectacular all right. I have some dessert plates with almost the exact same pattern on them!

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  29. I've never seen anything like it. It's beautiful and goes with so many color schemes.

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  30. Sweetbay, I was hoping someone had seen one (okay not really:) They are spectacular I think, so glad you've seen one!

    James, Those must be some cool dessert plates then. I think black and white is so classic.

    MMD, Oh yes, gotta love the black and white scheme. This moth was most cool.

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  31. Wow that's so beautiful! I've never seen one up here... I wonder if we have them. -Jackie

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  32. That is a beautiful moth Tina. I've never seen one. I will have to watch for one.

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  33. They may be common where you are, but I've never seen such a thing. It really is interesting! I wish they'd come here too.

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  34. Jean, I am glad the butterfly book is coming in handy! I run to mine whenever I see a new one to identify! I bet the rain is keeping them at bay this year. We had a quick shower but just after I watered real well so all the water soaked in and did not run off as has been. Yippee, no watering for a while now...

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  35. Gorgeous! I've never seen anything like it. What a treat to get such a stylish garden visitor.

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  36. As much pleasure as we're getting from seeing that moth on your blog, that little girl who spotted it must have been really pleased with herself!

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  37. That is a beautiful moth. Moths kind of freak me out, especially the big ones. I hate when the slip indoors at night!

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  38. I've never even heard of such a moth before! How cool to have them flitting about the garden!

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  39. Ooh, Tina, very cool. I don't know that I've ever seen one.~~Dee

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  40. I've never seen one before. It's really beautiful.

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