Description
Wingspan: 2 7/8 to 4 1/8 inches
Male: bluish-green with yellow highlights, lavender to maroon wing edges and legs, and a single eyespot on each wing.
Female: same, but with narrower (less feathery) antennae.
Egg: brown.
Larva: bright green with greenish yellow lateral stripe.
Pupa: dark brown. Outer cocoon is honey-brown and often wrapped with a leaf.
Female: same, but with narrower (less feathery) antennae.
Egg: brown.
Larva: bright green with greenish yellow lateral stripe.
Pupa: dark brown. Outer cocoon is honey-brown and often wrapped with a leaf.
Similar Species
None in the USA.
None in the USA.
Habitat & Biology
Habitat: deciduous hardwood forests.
Overwintering stage: pupa.
Larval host: uses a variety of deciduous trees, including White Birch (Betula papyrifera), Sweet Gum (Liquidambar styraciflua), walnuts (Juglans spp.), and hickories (Carya spp.).
Adult food source: adults do not have developed mouth parts and cannot feed. They live for approximately one week while searching for mates and laying eggs.
Habitat: deciduous hardwood forests.
Overwintering stage: pupa.
Larval host: uses a variety of deciduous trees, including White Birch (Betula papyrifera), Sweet Gum (Liquidambar styraciflua), walnuts (Juglans spp.), and hickories (Carya spp.).
Adult food source: adults do not have developed mouth parts and cannot feed. They live for approximately one week while searching for mates and laying eggs.
 |
| Luna moth emerging from its cocoon |
 |
| Female Luna Moth expanding her wings |
 |
| Female Luna Moth expanding her wings |
 |
| Female Luna Moth |
 |
| Male Luna Moth (note the wider antennae) |
 |
| Male Luna Moth |
Are luna moths found in the PNW?
ReplyDeleteNo, only the eastern US, I just like to rear Saturniidae for fun
DeleteI found a large green caterpillar in our backyard today that sure seems to be a Luna Moth caterpillar. 3" plus long and quite plum. Little dots of color and hair coming out of the dots. Olympic Peninsual
ReplyDeleteLunas don't occur in the west. Look up images of Polyphemus moths, Antheraea polyphemus, the larvae are very similar and it is a common species across the US, feeds on maple and oak.
Delete