Chesapeake Bay Program - Luna Moth

<p>The luna moth, <i>Actias luna </i>(Linnaeus, 1758), belongs to the family Saturniidae, and is a commonthough uncommonly glimpsednight-flying silk moth throughout the eastern United States and southern Canada. Its familiar luminescent green coloration and dramatic long tails make it a favorite species to watch for, and although many images exist, it's rare to come upon a live moth. Their life span as adults is very short, only about one week.</p> <p> The adult luna moth is a stunning creature, with pale green wings, a striking greenish brown and white "eye" marking on each wing, and its forewings can have a slightly purple coloration. Its wingspan ranges from 3 to 7 inches acrossusually between 3 and 5 inchesand its long, graceful tails can reach three inches in length. Its feathery antennae are generally fawn-colored, and it has a soft, long-haired thorax. Like other members of Saturniidae family, during its adult phase the luna moth has no hearing organs, or tympana, and has only vestigial mouth parts and does not eat.</p> <p><b>Life Cycle:</b></p> <p> The luna moth's life cycle unfolds in four major stages. It begins as an egg or ovum, then moves into the larval or caterpillar stage. This is the only stage during which growth takes place. During the larval stage, many changes occur, which can be marked by the alterations in size and coloration. The luna caterpillar is fairly large, between 3 and 4 inches, and depending upon its stage of growth may appear bright green, with dark green sides and a white or yellow stripe on either side, and spines. Changes in the body's color and the placement of its hairs and tubercles, or spines, take place over the next several stages, and the full-grown larva may returns to the adult moth's delicate pale green color, yellowish above and bluish below. The caterpillars consume leaves from many species of trees, including hickory, sweetgum, walnut, persimmon or birch leaves.</p> <p> The larva begins to pupate by covering itself with a leaf, under which it begins to form the actual cocoon, which is thin and papery. It is woven loosely and may incorporate leaf debris and even contain small holes. Occasionally the pupa can be seen through the delicate fibers. During its dormant phase, the pupa is vulnerable and generally remains still, and eventually the adult mothin its imago phaseemerges. During its short life as a flying insect, the luna moth lays eggs, but does not take any nourishment.</p> <p> The adult moths begin to appear in early spring in the southern eastern U.S., and the species produce up to three broods per year. In the northeast, they fly later in the summer and have two broods. </p>