Luna MothActias luna
Quick facts
- Rarity
- Uncommon
- Active during
- Night
- Found in
- Lotsamoss Woods
- Length
- 1.5 in
- Wingspan
- 3.7 in
From the field notes
Diet
Luna caterpillars spend weeks feasting heavily on walnut and hickory leaves, because once they become adults, they are no longer able to eat. Luna moths don't even have a functioning mouth or digestive system.
Sonic Illusion
Those long, sweeping hindwing tails flutter rapidly as the moth flies, creating an acoustic decoy. This scrambles the sonar of hunting bats, tricking the predators into striking the expendable tail.
Short Flight
Because they cannot eat, their time in the night sky is fleeting. These beautiful moths only live for about a week as adults, spending every precious evening urgently searching for a mate.
The Cocoon
When ready to pupate, the caterpillars climb down to the forest floor, wrapping themselves snugly in fallen leaves. Their papery, brown silk cocoons are perfectly camouflaged among the leaf litter.
Field Marks
Sea-foam green wings, elegant trailing tails, and crescent moon spots on each wing (which give them their name) are clear features of the Luna moth.