Actias luna
The luna moth (Actias luna) is a species of moth. It is in the family Saturniidae. The luna moth is thought to be North America's most beautiful insect.[1]
| Luna moth | |
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| Actias luna, adult | |
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| Binomial name | |
| Actias luna Linnaeus, 1758
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Description
The luna moth has a wingspan of 7.5 to 10.5 cm. The wings are lime-green. The bottom wings have long tails. There is a clear spot on each wing. There is a reddish-brown border on the top edge of the top wing. Some individuals have pinkish borders on the outer edge of both wings. Other individuals have yellowish borders instead. Adult luna moths have no mouth, and live on the fat they stored up at the larval stage.[2][3] Because of this, they only live for about a week.[4]
Distribution
The luna moth is found in North America. It is found from Nova Scotia, west to North Dakota, south to Texas, and east to Florida.[3]
The luna moth is found in habitats such as woodlands and forests.[1]
Flight period
The luna moth is seen from May to July in the northern part of its range. It is seen from March to September in the southern part of its range.[2]
Life cycle
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The luna moth's eggs are brown. The caterpillar is green. It has bright red spots on its body. There are two yellow stripes that run down each side of the body. The caterpillar will grow to 6.5 cm long. The luna moth caterpillar is similar to the polyphemus moth (Antheraea polyphemus) caterpillar. The polyphemus moth caterpillar does not have yellow stripes on its body.[1] The luna moth's cocoon is made of dead leaves on the ground. It overwinters (spends the winter) as a cocoon. The luna moth lays eggs once each year in the northern part of its range. It has three broods per year in the southern part of its range.[2]
Food plants
The caterpillars feed on the following host plants:[1][3]
Actias Luna Media
Image of a pinned Luna Moth (Actias luna)
Eggs from female raised in captivity, laid on coarse paper
Actias luna hatching. Taken and raised by Shawn Hanrahan.
4th-instar larva. Spots can also be yellow or magenta.
5th-instar larva starting to create a cocoon (note silk strands to leaves)
Pupa, removed from cocoon. Eyes visible at head end (left)
Wings drying and enlarging after emergence from pupa
Luna Moth (Actias luna), closeup of a male's antennae, Kingsmere Lake, Gatineau Park, Quebec
References
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Wikispecies has information on: Actias luna. |
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 David L. Wagner (2005). Caterpillars of Eastern North America. Princeton University Press, Princeton, NJ. ISBN 0-691-12144-3
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Charles V. Covell, Jr. 2005. Moths of Eastern North America. Virginia Museum of Natural History, Martinsville, VA. ISBN 1-884549-21-7
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 "Butterflies and Moths of North America". Archived from the original on 2010-05-25. Retrieved 2010-02-26.
- ↑ Hazel Davies and Carol A. Butler 2008. Do butterflies bite?: Fascinating answers to questions about butterflies and moths pp24–25. Rutgers University Press, Piscataway, NJ. ISBN 978-0-8135-4268-3