Category Archives: Backyard Beauty

Nature’s Eye-Catching Generalist: An In-Depth Look at the Giant Leopard Moth (Hypercompe scribonia)

If you have ever stumbled across a massive, bristly black caterpillar with bright red bands or a stunning white moth dotted with iridescent blue-black rings, you have encountered Hypercompe scribonia. Commonly known as the Giant Leopard Moth (or Eyed Tiger Moth), this species is one of the largest and most visually striking tiger moths in North America.

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CASE STUDY: Saturniidae Moth Populations in Richmond, Rhode Island Part 3

This is going to be a quick entry in this case study. As of this writing on June 27, 2021, all but a few cocoons have hatched. I have a small assortment still of cecropia, polyphemus and luna. Initially I felt that this case study was a failure about after giving it some thought, I realized that I know a lot more now than I did at the start, which should help tremendously going into 2022.

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BACKYARD BEAUTY

I remember when I was growing up, always wanting to be outside playing and exploring. I also remember waiting patiently at the bottom deck stair, touching the grass so that it was dry so that I didn’t track anything back into the house while I was out. Every few minutes I would run my hand through the grass readying myself to yell to my mother that the grass was finally dry. Once it was, I was nowhere to be seen. I was either in the overgrown field behind the house catching insects or I would be off to other areas in Jamestown that I knew where hot spots for cool insects.

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