Over a period of several hours the wings will enlarge to full size. The imagoes (winged, sexually mature), often referred to as 'adult moths,' emerge from the pupae with the wings small, crumpled and held close to the body. Fifth-instar larvae descend to the ground and use silk to bind dead leaves around the cocoon. The larvae may take on a reddish-brown color just prior to cocooning. Small, colorful dots – yellow or magenta – may line the sides of the fourth and fifth instars. The fifth (final) instar grows to approximately 70–90 mm (2.8–3.5 in) in length. Larvae are primarily green, with sparse hairs. Description Įggs, attached in small groups to undersides of leaves, are mottled white and brown, slightly oval, and roughly 1.5 millimeters in diameter. Ī parasitoid fly deliberately introduced to North America as a biological pest control for the invasive species spongy moth appears to have had a negative impact on luna moths and other native moths. The elongated tails of the hindwings are thought to confuse the echolocation detection used by predatory bats. ![]() ![]() Īs defense mechanisms, larvae emit clicks as a warning and can also regurgitate intestinal contents, confirmed as having a deterrent effect on a variety of predators. Its typical wingspan is roughly 114 mm (4.5 in), but wingspans can exceed 178 mm (7.0 in), ranking the species as one of the larger moths in North America.Īcross Canada, it has one generation per year, with the winged adults appearing in late May or early June, whereas farther south it will have two or even three generations per year, the first appearance as early as March in southern parts of the United States. The moth has lime-green wings and a white body. The luna moth ( Actias luna), also called the American moon moth, is a Nearctic moth in the family Saturniidae, subfamily Saturniinae, a group commonly named the giant silk moths.
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