Join us as we explore some intriguing facts about the enigmatic luna moth. But their enchanting appearance is just the beginning of their story. These Nearctic moths inhabit regions spanning North America and tropical Mexico, making them a fascinating subject of study.īelonging to the Saturniidae family, these giant silk moths boast expansive, eye-catching wings and an otherworldly aura. When ready to mate the female moth releases a pheromone from her abdomen that the male then picks up with his very sensitive antennae.Luna moths, or American Moon Moths as they are also called, captivate the imagination with their ethereal beauty and alluring presence. Since locating each other in the dark would be difficult based on sight, they use their sense of smell. The feathery antennae are used by the males to search for females for mating purposes. Adult Luna Moths only live a week to ten days, just long enough to mate and lay their eggs. They do not have any mouth parts and must live off of stored fat from when they were a caterpillar. Their long, elegant tails are thought to confuse bat sonar, making them less likely to become a meal. Being nocturnal they are rarely seen unless you are fortunate to either come across a newly hatched one that is drying its wings or one that flew to a street or porch light and remained until the next morning. When people see one for the first time, especially if they are unaware of the species, the first thing they think is that something tropical was let loose. The adult Luna Moth is perhaps the most stunning moth in North America. This makes them more difficult to find by predators. In the wild the caterpillars are loners, rarely eating together in the same area. Caterpillars are eating machines and each instar lasts approximately a week, depending on weather and availability of fresh food (cooler weather slows them down and lack of quality food can also stunt their growth). Like all insects they must shed their skin, or molt, to grow and they do this once for each instar. The caterpillars go through five stages of growth, called instars, before pupating. The larva, or caterpillar, of the Luna Moth is spectacular in both coloration and size. Fertile eggs remain full whereas infertile eggs will collapse upon themselves. They usually hatch within a week to ten days. They sometimes have hairs from the moth’s abdomen attached to them as well. They are laid singly or in small groups on the food plant and have a rough appearance. The ova, or eggs, of the Luna Moth are small and dark in color, brown to almost black. I have found them very easy to rear on both walnut and sweetgum, with the only real issues being overcrowding which tends to attract yellow jackets and birds, who love to eat the caterpillars, especially when using net bags on the branches of trees.Īspen ( Populus), Bayberry ( Myrica), Beech ( Fagus), Birch ( Betula), Butternut ( Juglans), Chestnut ( Castanaea), Hickory ( Carya), Hops ( Humulus), Hornbeam ( Carpinus), Maple ( Acer), Oak ( Quercus), Pecan ( Carya), Sweetgum ( Liquidambar), Sycamore ( Platanus), Tulip Tree ( Liriodendron), Walnut ( Juglans). The spring forms also have a more vibrant purple outer wing margin. There are two seasonal forms, with those hatching in the spring being a more intense green in color whereas those hatching in the summer tend to be more yellowish. Collins, this species can be found throughout most of the eastern part of North America. With its green colors and long delicate tails, it is breathtaking to see live and in person, especially for the first time! According to the amazing book “ The Wild Silk Moths of North America: A Natural History of the Saturniidae of the United States and Canada” by Paul M. The Luna Moth ( Actias luna) is one of the most spectacular of the giant Saturniid moths from the United States.
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