# @nationalparkservice on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/DcywqL2lnHC
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/69934345-nationalparkservice-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/a3cf67bdef.jpg
- **Posted:** 2026-09-02T17:20:57.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** National Park Service (@nationalparkservice) — https://gondola.cc/nationalparkservice

## Caption

It’s giving leopard. It’s giving moth. It’s giving…leopard moth. Well, what else would we call it?

Moths always looking on the bright side. The word “moth” may conjure images of drab, furry insects loitering around your screen door, making questionable decisions about light sources. But moths are actually doing some fairly important work, including pollinating plants and providing food for a wide variety of other creatures.

Take the giant leopard moth (Hypercompe scribonia), also known as the eyed tiger moth. It’s a large, mostly white moth that is surprisingly easy to identify.

The main clue is the spots.

Its wings are covered in black and shiny blue-black dots, some solid and some hollow, as though someone was given a white moth and a permanent marker and told to “just see what happens.”

P.S. If handled or threatened, the giant leopard moth may release drops of foul-tasting yellow fluid from its thorax to discourage predators. We assume this works. We are also pleased to report that no one here has volunteered to conduct the necessary taste test.

NPS Photos

## Stats

- **Views:** 0
- **Likes:** 45,013
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- **Comments:** 144

## Credits

| Name | Username | Profile | Role |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| National Park Service | @nationalparkservice | https://gondola.cc/nationalparkservice | Government Organization |

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