Luna Moth
Actias
luna
Luna Moths are members of
the Saturniidae family, also known as the "Giant Silkworm
Moths." Luna Moths are huge moths, with a wingspan of four and a half inches. They have a white body, pinkish legs, and huge pale green wings. The hind wings have eye spots and long tails. They fly, only at night, in Spring and early Summer. The female Luna Moth lays eggs on the bottom of Black Walnut leaves. She lays about 200 eggs in small groups. You can tell a male from a female, because males have larger, bushier antennae. |
William Welch ©a natural selection |
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Once the eggs are laid,
it takes about 10 days for them to hatch. Caterpillars
begin eating as soon as they leave the egg. They eat leaves from many different trees and shrubs, including: Sweetgum, American Beech, Red Maple, hickories, White Oak, Black Cherry, willows, American Chestnut, and Smooth Sumac. |
The caterpillars will
continue to eat and grow, molting
their skins as they grow. They will do this five times over
a period of three to four weeks. When the caterpillar is fully grown, it will be 2 1/2 inches long and ready to become a pupa. It will spin silk from near its mouth and wrap itself in a leaf. The caterpillar will usually stay in this cocoon for two to three weeks. If it is near winter, the caterpillar will wait until Spring to hatch. |
William Welch ©a natural selection |
Copyright, Roberta Gray |
When the adult
Luna Moth leaves its coccoon, it is not ready to fly. Its
wings are short and stumpy and the insect needs to rest. It
usually hatches in mid-morning and climbs a tree trunk to
hang its wings, so they can fill with blood. Once the wings
are inflated, the adult moth will wait until nightfall to
fly off to find a mate. Adult Luna Moths don't eat; in fact, they don't even have a mouth. They only live for about a week, and their only purpose is to mate. |
Luna Moths were once very common, but are now considered an endangered species in some areas.
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I have only seen two of these moths. Have you ever spotted one where you live?
Those are really pretty. Never seen one, even when we lived in Tennessee. Wiki says some sightings as far south as central Florida so there probably aren't any here.
ReplyDeleteInteresting post.
Terry
Fla.
Saw them where I used to live, not here though. They are startling because they are so large and green - not like the regular moths you see at night.
DeleteInteresting ...I have seen them n yes they are quite large and a bit intimidating because of their size.
DeleteWe have a lot of bats here - wonder if they are eating them.
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