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You are here: Home / Life in General / Giant Leopard Moth

Giant Leopard Moth

September 12, 2011 by Bob Borson 28 Comments

I named my site “Life of an Architect” because some days would be “architect” days and others would be “life”. I had a life moment last night that I wanted to share – I’ll resume with the architecture type stuff tomorrow.

Giant Leopard Moth

This is a Giant Leopard Moth (Scientific name is “Hypercompe scribonia” from the Order Lepidoptera). Until Saturday night, not only had I never seen one before, I have never heard of one before … until I found one in my bathroom.

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Giant Leopard Moth

So I was watching TV reading the encyclopedia and my wife came out and told me there was an issue in the bathroom

Michelle: “Bob? There is something in the bathroom that you need to go look at.”

Bob: “Excuse me?!”

Michelle: “There is a  long, giant thing that…”

Bob: “Hey, Hey HEEEYYYYY!!”

Michelle: (sighing, flopping head back and looking at the ceiling…). “It’s a bug. It’s high up on the wall above the toilet. Pretty sure it has some stingers…“

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So I walked into the bathroom, looked high up on the wall above the toilet and saw a really cool bug. First thing I did was go get my camera with my new wide angle lens (isn’t that what you would have done?)

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giant leopard moth

I have a rule about killing bugs since I don’t like to actually kill them. It’s not that I won’t or that I think it’s gross … I just don’t think I have any business killing things unless they get all up in my biz-nass. Here are my killin’ rules (yes, I have some Type A personality traits and as a result, I have “developed” rules for killing stuff):

  1. You don’t kill something if it’s where it’s supposed to be. This guideline is pretty straight forward.
  2. You don’t kill something if relocating is a viable option. This guideline can occasionally get into a gray area simply because of the word “if” – it’s open to some level of interpretation. I don’t have a problem grabbing a cricket that has found it’s way inside but that isn’t true with everyone in my house. If I am not around, termination is quite possible.
  3. You can kill “bad” things if they are where they shouldn’t be. “Where they shouldn’t be” is define by being inside my house and is really focused on the potential to damage my personal property. This also includes anything that stings and guideline #2 isn’t an option (you know … because of the “stinging”). This is basically the inverse of #1 with a twist.
  4. You can kill anything that’s defined in rule #3 but relocation isn’t an option because they will simply come back. The coming back is the reason for this guideline but there could be any number of additional reasons (like it’s warm inside and known predators are outside).
  5. You can kill any and all ants for leisure or sport. I really just don’t like ants and have given myself exempt status where they are concerned.

I think these are pretty reasonable rules myself but then again, the ants might think otherwise.

.giant leopard moth

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giant leopard moth

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giant leopard moth.

I’m a little sad because I don’t think this Giant Leopard Moth is going to make it. I was very careful when relocating it outside (i.e. didn’t touch the wings) but “Mothra”- as we are now calling it – is still in the same basic area where I put him 20 hours ago. I was hoping that he had come out of the chrysalis (ie – cocoon) and just needed to let his wings dry out a bit before flying off to wherever Mothra’s damn well please. My fingers are crossed but I don’t have a good feeling.

At any rate, maybe most of you are familiar with the Giant Leopard Moth, I wasn’t (thank you Internet). The natural beauty found in nature is staggering and inspiring.

Have a great Monday.

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