The Luna Moth
A Female Luna Moth
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Photo by Mrs. Gray's Class, 1999
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The Luna Moth is also called the "Moon Moth". This moth is found
in many of the eastern United States from Maine to Florida. It is
less common in the western states such as Texas and the Great
Plains. It is also found in the southern areas of the Canadian
provinces of Nova Scotia, P.E.I., New Brunswick, Quebec, Ontario,
Manitoba, and Saskachewan. Its wingspan can be five inches. There
are two broods each year.
Luna caterpillars like sweetgum, walnut, birch, hickory, and
persimmon. The larvae or caterpillar will grow to about 3.5
inches and are generally green throughout their five growth stages or
instars. There is a lateral yellow line on the Luna
caterpillar. When the caterpillar is ready to form its cocoon, it
finds a safe place. It then starts to spin a sticky thread.
It wraps this sticky thread around its body and also wraps leaves into
the cocoon with this sticky thread. The Luna's cocoon is a loose
bag of silk and leaves.
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Photo by Mrs. Gray's Class, 1999
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When the moth is ready to emerge from its cocoon, it makes a special
juice which softens the cocoon and allows it to emerge from the
cocoon. The newly hatched Luna moth has moist, tiny, wrinkled-up
wings and a large body. The moth slowly pumps fluid from its body
into its wings. After an hour of this activity the winds are
fully expanded. The moth then will remain motionless for the rest
of the day to allow its wings to dry and harden. Luna moths are
active at night. The male will fly off looking for a mate while
the female will generally remain flightless until it has mated.
Once it has mated the female will fly from plant to plant laying its
150 - 250 eggs. The eggs will hatch after 8 -
13 days.
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