Summary ⁷

Actias luna, commonly known as the Luna Moth, is a lime-green, Nearctic Saturniid moth in the family Saturniidae, subfamily Saturniinae. It has a wingspan of up to 114mm (4.5 inches), making it one of the largest moths in North America.

Habitat ⁸

The Luna Moth is a denizen of mixedwood and hardwood forests, in Alberta most likely to be found in the northern Boreal forest where white birch is present.

Life cycle ⁹

In Alberta adults appear and mate in June. The larvae feed through the summer until mature in late summer, then pupate in a papery cocoon for the winter. The mature larvae are large, fat-looking bright green caterpillars with a faint yellow lateral stripe and a narrow yellow band bordering each segment. There are several small scarlet dots in a band on each segment. Mature larvae are about 6.5 cm. in length.

Threats ¹⁰

Degree of Threat: Medium

Comments: The only real concern appears to be the out of control introduced biocontrol Compsilura concinnata (Diptera: Tachinidae) which has impacted this and other large moths in New England and vicinity. however there is no clear evidence such impacts are spreading, although the fly is, and there has been obvious recovery since the low point in the 1970s. At present luna moth appears unthreatened in about 90% or more of its range and unlike some compsilura victims, luna moth has not been actually extirpated from any significant area.

Taxonomy ¹¹

Comments: Taxonomic status of populations of this genus in southern Florida needs some work, but otherwise no subspecies are recognized.

Sources and Credits

1. (c) Patrick, some rights reserved (CC BY), http://www.flickr.com/photos/72559856@N00/3736218753
2. (c) Kurt Andreas, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2869/9567385462_e3ecd49bcd_o.jpg
3. (c) Shaun Winterton, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3600/3368105006_fd9db498b2.jpg
4. (c) Matt Muir, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://lh5.ggpht.com/-rQIgYfPHYSo/TeRSeb33F8I/AAAAAAAAA94/XcI739wba0I/P1060624.jpg
5. (c) Matt Muir, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://lh4.ggpht.com/-GD-PFee62qI/UE0hOQNN2qI/AAAAAAAAP38/nPFYwdKdSAk/P1150202.JPG
6. (c) KT Thalin, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by KT Thalin
7. (c) Wikipedia, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Actias_luna
8. (c) University of Alberta Museums, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), http://eol.org/data_objects/31892344
9. (c) University of Alberta Museums, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), http://eol.org/data_objects/31892345
10. (c) NatureServe, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), http://eol.org/data_objects/28761674
11. (c) NatureServe, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), http://eol.org/data_objects/28761668

More Info

• iNat taxon page
• Animal Diversity Web
• Biodiversity Heritage Library
• BOLD Systems BIN search
• BugGuide
• Butterflies and Moths of North America
• CUIC Insect Images
• Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF)
• HOSTS - a Database of the World's Lepidopteran Hostplants
• Maryland Biodiversity Project
• Maryland Moths
• Mass Moths
• Moth Photographers Group
• Moths of North Carolina
• NatureServe Explorer 2.0
• Pacific Northwest Moths

Range Map

(c) Discover Life and original sources, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC-SA)

iNat Map