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04-AUG-2001

Lunar moth.jpg

Very unusual looking moth...about 5 inches across

Canon PowerShot Pro90 IS
1/50s f/2.8 at 12.2mm (35mm equivalent: 69mm) full exif

other sizes: small medium large original auto
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lois 07-Jun-2009 13:39
I just moved to a new address here in ME, and I came out of the house and a beautiful lime green butterfly caught my eye, I went in to get my camera to take a couple of pictures and I thought I might not be there when I returned. It stayed right there on the side of the house for hours. I just read about this Luna moth, and I was sad to learn their life span is so short. I am SO glad I got to see one up close and got a picture of one. They are a sight to behold.
Laura 03-Jun-2008 14:57
Hi nice photo, we just caught one this am. It was sitting on our front porch in Georgetown Maine my son is 5 he took it to school to show his kindergarten class I asked him to release it after his share time~~ I am not sure I would have put it in a container to take to school and then release at a different location ~~had I read about them first, ( I did not know their life span was so short.)
Jan 27-Jul-2007 01:27
We had one at my job for two days. First day, it clung to the side of the building, and the second day was on the sidewalk for most of the day and disappeared. This was the first time in my 50 yrs. I have ever seen one. Beautiful..
SHANNAN 19-Jun-2007 14:50
I HAD ONE OF THESE CLINGING TO MY KITCHEN WINDOW LAST NIGHT IN PRESQUE ISLE, ME! VERY COOL!!!
Carolyn 10-Jun-2007 19:22
Hi, Saw a lunar moth in Greenville Junction, Maine this past weekend. A beautiful site to see. My husband had never heard of them, so did an internet search to show him one in full color. Your photo is spectacular.
woody08-Jun-2006 14:37
Range
In the United States this species has been found in every state east of the Great Plains
Habitat
Deciduous hardwood forests
Season
One brood in the north, May-July. Three broods in the south, March-September. (1)
Food
Adult Luna moths do not eat; their only object is to reproduce.
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).
Life Cycle
The adults have a life span of only about one week.
Coccoons are concealed in leaf litter. (1)
gabi 07-Jun-2006 21:42
what do you feed a lunar moth i have one right here with me that i found tell me what it eats.
justine 01-Apr-2002 22:04
i absolutly love the picture. i'm a big insect fanatic. i love to see pictures that capture the essence and the beauty of the moth.