HomeGuideID RequestRecentFrassForumsDonateHelp

Clickable Guide

Calendar

Upcoming Events

Photos of insects and people from the 2022 BugGuide gathering in New Mexico, July 20-24

National Moth Week was July 23-31, 2022! See moth submissions.

Photos of insects and people from the Spring 2021 gathering in Louisiana, April 28-May 2

Photos of insects and people from the 2019 gathering in Louisiana, July 25-27

Photos of insects and people from the 2018 gathering in Virginia, July 27-29

Photos of insects and people from the 2015 gathering in Wisconsin, July 10-12

Previous events

TaxonomyBrowse

Info

ImagesLinksBooksData

Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Butterflies and Moths (Lepidoptera) » Silkworm, Sphinx, and Royal Moths (Bombycoidea) » Giant Silkworm and Royal Moths (Saturniidae) » Silkmoths (Saturniinae) » Saturniini » Actias » Luna Moth - Hodges#7758 (Actias luna)

Species Actias luna - Luna Moth - Hodges#7758

Classification · Hodges Number · Explanation of Names · Size · Identification · Range · Habitat · Season · Food · Life Cycle · See Also · Print References · Internet References · Works Cited

Show images of: caterpillars · adults · both

Classification

Kingdom Animalia (Animals)

Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)

Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)

Class Insecta (Insects)

Order Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)

Superfamily Bombycoidea (Silkworm, Sphinx, and Royal Moths)

Family Saturniidae (Giant Silkworm and Royal Moths)

Subfamily Saturniinae (Silkmoths)

Tribe Saturniini

Genus Actias

Species luna (Luna Moth - Hodges#7758)

Hodges Number

7758

Explanation of Names

Actias luna (Linnaeus, 1758)

luna - Latin for "moon"

Size

7.5 - 10.5 cm wingspan

Identification

The hindwings have long curving tails. The wings are pale green, each with a transparent eyespot.

Pink or brown on outer margin in southen spring brood; yellow in northern and other southern broods. (1)

Larva lime-green with pink spots and weak subspiracular stripe on abdomen. Yellow lines cross the larva's back near the back end of each segment (compare Polyphemus moth caterpillars, which have yellow lines crossing at spiracles). Anal proleg edged in yellow.(2) Sparse hairs.

Range

e. N. Amer. - Map (MPG)

Habitat

Deciduous hardwood forests

Season

One brood in the north, May-July. Three broods in the south, March-September. (1)

Food

Adult Luna moths do not eat; their only objective is to reproduce.

The caterpillars eat a variety of trees including white birch (Betula papyrifera), persimmon (Diospyros virginiana), sweet gum (Liquidambar styraciflua), hickories (Carya), walnuts (Juglans), pecans, and sumacs (Rhus).

Life Cycle

The adults have a life span of only about one week.

Coccoons are concealed in leaf litter. (1)

Life cycle images:

eggs; early instar larvae; older larvae; prepupal larva; pupa; cocoon; newly emerged adult; adult male

See Also

Larvae of Polyphemus Moth are similar but lack subspiracular stripe and have diagonal lines crossing at spiracles.

Print References

Covell, p. 49, plate 1, #6, plate 2, #4, and plate 9, #8 (1)

Internet References

Moth Photographers Group - MPG

Butterflies and Moths of North America - BAMONA

Animal Diversity Web

Works Cited

1.	Peterson Field Guides: Eastern Moths Charles V. Covell. 1984. Houghton Mifflin Company.

2.	Caterpillars of Eastern North America David L. Wagner. 2005. Princeton University Press.

Contributed by Troy Bartlett on 16 February, 2004 - 12:32pm
Additional contributions by Mike Boone, cotinis, Hannah Nendick-Mason, Beatriz Moisset, Christopher C Wirth, anitagould, Chuck Entz, Mike Quinn, Jason D. Roberts, marcie oconnor, Tyler Hedlund
Last updated 10 August, 2021 - 2:52pm

Disclaimer: Dedicated naturalists volunteer their time and resources here to provide this service. We strive to provide accurate information, but we are mostly just amateurs attempting to make sense of a diverse natural world. If you need expert professional advice, contact your local extension office.

Contributors own the copyright to and are solely responsible for contributed content.
Click the contributor's name for licensing and usage information.
Everything else copyright © 2003-2023 Iowa State University, unless otherwise noted.

Bugguide is hosted by:

Printer Friendly Version