Luna Moth

Actias luna

The Luna Moth is a large, pale green moth with long, flowing wings. It is a magical sight at night!

Habitat: Forests and woodlands

Appearance

The Luna Moth has striking lime-green wings with a white furry body and long, flowing tails on its hindwings. Each wing features a distinct, transparent 'eye spot' (ocellus), and its antennae are feathery and often pale green.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumArthropodaClassInsectaOrderLepidopteraFamilySaturniidaeGenusActias

Luna Moth

Interesting facts

A male Luna Moth can smell a female from several miles away using his giant feathery antennae!

Adult Luna Moths don't have mouths or stomachs, so they never eat anything!

If a predator grabs its tail, the moth can sometimes break it off and fly away!

Instead of flying south, Luna Moths spend winter as a pupa inside a leaf-wrapped cocoon!

Special abilities

Luna Moths have bright green wings that help them blend perfectly with leafy surroundings, hiding from predators during the day.

Luna Moths have long twisting tails on their hindwings that can confuse predators like bats, making them attack the wrong spot.

Luna Moths can detect the high-pitched sounds made by hunting bats, allowing them to perform evasive maneuvers and escape.

Measurements & details

Wingspan: 80-115 mm
Size: 35-45 mm
Lifespan: 7-10 days
Leg Count: 6

Diet & Feeding

Adults don't eat at all! Caterpillars munch on tree leaves to grow big and strong.

Age differences: Adults do not eat, relying on energy stored from their caterpillar stage; caterpillars are voracious leaf-eaters.

Primary Foods

Sweetgum leaves
Walnut leaves
Hickory leaves
Birch leaves
Sumac leaves

Foraging Method

Foraging

Ecological connections

eaten by

Little Brown Bat

Myotis lucifugus

Bats hunt moths using echolocation.

eaten by

Yellow-billed Cuckoo

Coccyzus americanus

Birds can prey on resting moths.

depends on

Sweetgum

Liquidambar styraciflua

Caterpillars feed on its leaves.

depends on

Shagbark Hickory

Carya ovata

A primary food source for larvae.

Traits

Wildlife

Step into the incredible world of wild animals and plants living freely in nature. From tiny insects to towering trees, it's all part of the wild wonders around us!

Herbivorous

Meet the peaceful munchers and grazers who find all their nourishment from plants, leaves, and fruits. They transform plant energy into life!

Forest

These lush habitats are filled with countless trees, offering homes to a huge variety of plants and animals! Immerse yourself in the green canopy.

Nocturnal

Explore the secret world of animals that come alive at night! They are wide awake when it's dark, using their amazing senses to find food and play.

Pollinator

Meet the busy helpers of the plant world! These creatures carry pollen from one flower to another, helping plants make seeds and grow fruits and vegetables.