Hypercompe

Hübner, 1819

giant leopard moths, tiger moths

Hypercompe is a of tiger in the Erebidae, erected by Jacob Hübner in 1819. The genus includes some of the largest tiger moths in eastern North America, most notably the giant leopard moth (H. scribonia). Larvae are densely hairy caterpillars commonly known as "woolly bears," with some like H. scribonia being entirely black and capable of curling into a defensive ball when disturbed. Several species were formerly placed in the genus Ecpantheria, now regarded as a junior synonym.

Hypercompe by (c) Daniel Mesa, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Daniel Mesa. Used under a CC-BY license.

Hypercompe scribonia 5 by Geoff Gallice from Gainesville. Used under a CC BY 2.0 license.

Hypercompe suffusa (Erebidae) by Juan Carlos Fonseca Mata. Used under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Hypercompe: /haɪˈpɜːrkɒmpi/

These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.

Identification

Larvae are densely covered in long, stiff hairs (setae), with some entirely black (e.g., H. scribonia) and others with banded coloration. When threatened, caterpillars curl into a tight ball, presenting a phalanx of spines. are large tiger with striking patterns: H. scribonia has white wings with black circles, bars, and dots. Males are and strongly attracted to lights, sometimes appearing in large numbers at bright lights in suitable .

Images

Distribution

Eastern North America (for H. scribonia); has broader distribution including Central and South America (e.g., H. cunigunda in Suriname and Brazil, H. muzina in Panama).

Seasonality

Larvae active spring through autumn; , with males frequently attracted to lights at night.

Diet

Larvae feed on a broad range of woody and herbaceous plants including dandelion, plantain, violets, cherry, and honeysuckle.

Life Cycle

hatch in spring into leaf-feeding caterpillars that grow through summer and autumn. Larvae overwinter in protected locations such as beneath logs, stones, or loose bark, surviving through supercooling and cryoprotectant production. In spring, larvae resume brief feeding before pupating in cocoons. emerge in warmer months.

Behavior

Larvae curl into a tight, spiny ball when disturbed—a defensive against . are . Males commonly attracted to lights at night, sometimes dozens appearing at bright lights in good .

Ecological Role

Larvae serve as for including Cotesia congregata () and Diolcogaster choi; these primary parasitoids may in turn be hyperparasitized by wasps such as Conura sp. ().

Human Relevance

Larvae (especially banded woolly bears of related ) feature in folklore as weather predictors, though this is not scientifically supported. H. scribonia caterpillars are frequently encountered by the public due to their large size and distinctive appearance.

Similar Taxa

Pyrrharctia isabella (banded woolly bear)Similar hairy tiger caterpillar with black and orange banding; Hypercompe scribonia lacks orange bands and is entirely black as a larva, with a different wing pattern (white with black spots vs. orange-brown in Isabella tiger moth).
Estigmene acrea (saltmarsh caterpillar)Hairy tiger caterpillar that may be orange; lacks black bands and defensive ball-rolling of Hypercompe; is white with black spots but smaller and with different pattern.