Learn More
Get Involved
North American Luna Moth

North American Luna Moth

Actias luna

Least Concern

Quick Facts

Kingdom: Animalia
Abundance: Common
Habitat: Forest, Urban
Activity: Diurnal (Active during day)
Lifespan: Adult Luna moths live up to 1 week

One of the most recognizable moths in North America. It boasts large, lime-green wings and a white body. The hindwings have long curving tails, each with a transparent eyespot. The wings are lined with pink margins.

Diet

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).

Activity Pattern

Diurnal (Active during day)
Kingdom: Animalia
→
Phylum: Arthropoda
→
Class: Insecta
→
Order: Lepidoptera
→
Family: Saturniidae
→
Genus: Actias
→
Species: Actias luna

Scientific Name

Actias luna
Lifespan
Adult Luna moths live up to 1 week

Behavior

Adults are very strong fliers and are attracted to lights. Mating takes place after midnight, and egg-laying begins that evening. Females lay eggs in small groups or singly on both surfaces of host plant leaves. The eggs hatch in about one week and the caterpillars are sedentary and solitary feeders. Leaves and silk are used to spin papery brown cocoons in litter under the host plant. As defense mechanisms, larvae emit clicks as a warning and can also regurgitate intestinal contents. Adult Luna moths only live for a week and do not feed during that time, they focus solely on reproduction.

Ecological Role

Food source for birds and other animals.

Activity Pattern

Diurnal (Active during day)

Habitat Types

Forest
Urban

Geographic Distribution

The Luna moth is found in North America, from east of the Great Plains in the United States – Florida to Maine, and from Saskatchewan eastward through central Quebec to Nova Scotia in Canada.

Local Abundance

Common

Conservation Status

Least Concern

This species is widespread and abundant. No immediate threat to survival.

How You Can Help

  • Report sightings to contribute to population monitoring
  • Support habitat conservation efforts
  • Follow guidelines when observing wildlife
No field notes or observations available for this species.

Contribute Your Observations

Have you spotted this species? Your observations help us track populations and understand behavior patterns.

Submit an Observation

Gallery