Wood Leopard Moth Zeuzera pyrina

The wood leopard moth earns its name honestly: its creamy white or pale wings are splattered with bold black spots like a leopard's distinctive coat. This striking pattern makes the moth memorable to anyone who spots one. Unlike most moths whose larvae feed on leaves, this species' young are wood-borers, tunneling deep into tree trunks and timber for their entire development, sometimes causing damage that lasts years. This wood-boring habit has made them fascinating to naturalists but notorious to foresters and furniture makers worldwide, who see them as potential pests to their livelihoods.