Actias luna – Luna Moth

Family Saturniidae  Hodges # 7758

Caterpillar foods: walnut, hickory, white birch, persimmon, sweet gum, pecan, and sumac (Bugguide)

For a long time I wondered if we had Lunas on our land.  Finally, in August of 2009, I found this piece of a wing on our driveway.

8/22/2009.

 

8/5/2011  A female was attracted to my lights

Actias luna 8-5-11 1

 

8/8/2011  I kept her overnight and she laid lots of eggs

Actias luna eggs 8-8-11 1

 

8/18/2011  1st instar

Actias luna first instar 8-20-11 1

 

8/25/2011 – 3rd instar

Actias luna 3rd instar 8-25-11 1

 

8/27/2011  3rd instar

Actias luna 3rd instar 8-27-11 1

 

8/1/2011  4th instar

Actias luna 4th instar 9-1-11 1

 

9/5/2011  5th instar

Actias luna 5th instar 9-5-11

 

9/14/2011  5th instar after the colors started to change in preparation for pupating

Actias luna 5th instar 9-14-11 1

 

9/26/2011  cocoon with its leaf wrapping

Actias luna cocoon 9-26-11 1

 

9/26/2011  cocoon

Actias luna cocoon 9-26-11 2

 

5/10/2012  A male at my lights

 

6/8/2013   A reared male.

Actias luna 6-8-13 1

 

5/20/2016  male at my lights

Actias luna 5-20-16 1

on Bugguide