Luna moth

Luna moth

Actias luna, The Luna Moth

Jaeger, 1859

Kellogg, 1905

   The Luna Moth is found throughout the eastern U.S., except for far-southern Florida. Males and females are similar in appearance, although males may be somewhat paler. Two broods are produced in the southern U.S., and the spring broods have a more intense blue-green coloration than the summer brood.
   Caterpillers feed on hickory, walnut, sumac, persimmon, and sweet gum in the southern part of its range, and on birch in the north.

   Unfortunately, these moths are frequently attracted to lights. Sometimes they will fly around the light and crash into various objects. When I encounter one in such a situation, I will relocate it to a dark secluded area. Do not, however, release one during the day, as they will be attacked and eaten by blue jays, mockingbirds, etc. If the moth seems to be safe, leave it alone and it will usually fly off at dawn.

Emmons, 1854

Harris, 1862

U.S. (1987)

Males and females both have distince plumose antennae. These may be used in mate location, as they help to detect pheromones emitted by the opposite sex.

Belgium (1971)

Comet-tailed giant silkworm moths, from Linsenmaier (1972). Argema mittrei (Madagascar) on the left, and Actias isis (Indonesia) on the right.

References

Harris, T.W. 1862. A Treatise on some of the Insects Injurious to Vegetation, 3^rd Edition. William White, Boston.

Jaeger, B. 1859. The Life of North American Insects. Harper and Brothers, Publishers, New York.

Kellogg, V.L. 1905. American Insects. Henry Holt and Company, New York.

Linsenmaier, W. 1972. Insects of the World. McGraw-Hill Book Co., New York.

Tuskes, P.M., J.P. Tuttle, and M.M. Collins. 1996. The Wild Silk Moths of North America: A Natural History of the Saturniidae of the United States and Canada. Comstock Publishing, Cornell University Press, Ithaca NY.

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