Luna moth
Actias luna (Linnaeus, 1758)
Family: Saturniidae
Subfamily: Saturniinae
Identification: Hindwings have long curving tails. Wings are pale green, each with a transparent eyespot. Outer margins are pink in the southern spring brood, yellow in the southern summer brood and in northern populations.
Wing Span: 2 15/16 - 4 1/8 inches (7.5 - 10.5 cm).
Life History: Adults are very strong fliers and are attracted to lights. Mating takes place after midnight, and egg-laying begins that evening. Females lay eggs in small groups or singly on both surfaces of host plant leaves. The eggs hatch in about one week and the caterpillars are sedentary and solitary feeders. Leaves and silk are used to spin papery brown cocoons in litter under the host plant.
Flight: One brood from May-July in the north, two to three broods from March-September in the south.
Caterpillar Hosts: A variety of trees including white birch (Betula papyrifera), persimmon (Diospyros virginiana), sweet gum (Liquidambar styraciflua), hickories (Carya), walnuts (Juglans), and sumacs (Rhus).
Adult Food: Adults do not feed.
Habitat: Deciduous hardwood forests.
Range: Common. Nova Scotia west to Saskatchewan and eastern North Dakota; south to central Florida, the Gulf Coast, and eastern Texas.
Conservation: Not usually required.
NCGR: G5 - Demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.
Management Needs: None reported.
Comments: NULL
Taxonomy Notes: This moth is often mistakenly referred to as the Lunar Moth, instead of the Luna Moth. It is also sometimes referred to as the American Moon Moth.
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 121 - 144 of 3311 verified sightings
Observation date: Jul 26, 2022
Submitted by: fflores9329
Region: Cook County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 26, 2022
Observation date: Jun 30, 2022
Submitted by: Lisalew
Region: Prince Edward Island, Canada
Verified by: Sue Gregoire
Verified date: Jul 23, 2022
Observation date: Jun 30, 2022
Submitted by: Ratty
Region: Saskatchewan, Canada
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Jul 20, 2022
Observation date: Jun 30, 2022
Submitted by: Monslokken
Region: Okaloosa County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jul 09, 2022
Observation date: Jul 09, 2022
Submitted by: BeaLaporte
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 09, 2022
Observation date: Jul 06, 2022
Submitted by: Lecia Conroy
Region: Warren County, Kentucky, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 07, 2022
Observation date: Jun 24, 2022
Submitted by: npacadia
Region: Hancock County, Maine, United States
Verified by: Sue Gregoire
Verified date: Jul 04, 2022
Observation date: Jul 04, 2021
Submitted by: Kristylardomita
Region: Geauga County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 04, 2022
Observation date: Jun 17, 2022
Submitted by: BeaLaporte
Region: Quebec, Canada
Verified by: Sue Gregoire
Verified date: Jul 03, 2022
Observation date: Jul 03, 2022
Submitted by: dawittrock2231
Region: Vilas County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Ilona L.
Verified date: Jul 03, 2022
Observation date: Jun 30, 2022
Submitted by: lello
Region: Hancock County, Maine, United States
Verified by: Sue Gregoire
Verified date: Jun 30, 2022
Observation date: Jun 19, 2022
Submitted by: RStankiewicz
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jun 30, 2022
Observation date: Feb 22, 2019
Submitted by: Docriebe
Region: Baldwin County, Alabama, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Jun 29, 2022
Observation date: Jun 23, 2022
Submitted by: Brokenmaple
Region: Frederick County, Maryland, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jun 23, 2022
Observation date: Jun 22, 2020
Submitted by: Chrysanthemum
Region: Albemarle County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jun 23, 2022
Observation date: Jun 20, 2022
Submitted by: Sammyk
Region: Greene County, New York, United States
Verified by: Sue Gregoire
Verified date: Jun 22, 2022
Observation date: Jun 01, 2022
Submitted by: darain2000
Region: Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jun 13, 2022
Observation date: Jun 08, 2022
Submitted by: JMJaskula
Region: Brown County, Indiana, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jun 12, 2022
Observation date: May 31, 2022
Submitted by: Les in Ohio
Region: Guernsey County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jun 12, 2022
Observation date: Apr 22, 2022
Submitted by: MaggieToo
Region: Ozark County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Jun 12, 2022
Observation date: Jun 07, 2022
Submitted by: Deb Tracy-Kral
Region: Dutchess County, New York, United States
Verified by: Sue Gregoire
Verified date: Jun 08, 2022
Observation date: May 19, 2022
Submitted by: Niayre
Region: DeKalb County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Jun 07, 2022
Observation date: Jun 03, 2022
Submitted by: Sometimes
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jun 03, 2022
Observation date: May 23, 2022
Submitted by: ActiasLunaTn
Region: Cumberland County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: May 31, 2022
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