Lonely Planet. Burnie, D. London: DK. Patlan, L. Sparks, S. Luna Moth. Chao, M. Goddess of the Moon: the life history of the Luna Moth. We share awesome animal content daily. Little Penguin. Copyright The Animal Facts Exact matches only. Search in title. Search in content. Search in excerpt.
Luna Moth Fact File. Appearance The luna moth has a pair of large green wings which rest on either side of the large furry body. Diet Luna moths do not eat as adults and only live for a single week. Range North America is the native home of the luna moth. However, they will seek certain areas that house preferred species of plants when they lay their eggs. In different regions Luna moths will prefer different plant species to lay their eggs on. The larvae will feed on white birch, hickory, sweet gum, persimmon, walnut, and sumac leaves.
Not all larvae can feed on all of those plants, and some regions can only survive on a single species of plant. This moth species dwells only in North America. They live as far west as the Great Plains, and as far east as the coast of the Atlantic Ocean. In the United States one might find them from Maine, all the way down to Florida.
These moths live nowhere else in the world. Adult Luna moths do not eat at all, as their mouthparts are non-functional. The only time these insects eat is during their larval stage. As discussed above, larvae from different regions will feed on different plants. Some regions can feed on certain plants that larvae in other regions cannot, and vice versa.
The plants regional larvae can eat are called host plants. Different host plants include persimmon, white birch, hickory, sumac, walnut, sweet gum, and more. They typically emerge in the morning, leaving time to spread and dry their wings before their first night of flight. Adult luna moths do not eat at all, and therefore have only vestigial mouthparts and no digestive system. Their sole purpose in life is to reproduce.
They have only about a week to do so before they die. The females emit a sex pheromone, which the males can detect even at a great distance with their broad, feathery antennae. They usually mate after midnight. The females begin laying eggs by the following night, continuing for several nights more. The eggs hatch after another week, and the cycle begins anew. Since they derive their nutrients and water supply from the leaves you provide to them, replacing the leaves inside their shelter daily is essential.
Luna caterpillars shed their skin over a period of four weeks until they are fully grown. Daily interaction with your luna caterpillars should include frequent cleanings of the shelter. Directly after the caterpillars hatch, line the bottom of their shelter with paper towels to catch droppings. At the end of each day, toss the paper towels out and replace them. This helps prevent the growth of mold. If you choose to handle your caterpillars, be very gentle. Wash your hands before and after accessing their shelter to prevent the spread of bacteria.
Do not pull or tug on the caterpillars.
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