Luna moth
Actias luna (Linnaeus, 1758)
Family: Saturniidae
Subfamily: Saturniinae
Identification: Hindwings have long curving tails. Wings are pale green, each with a transparent eyespot. Outer margins are pink in the southern spring brood, yellow in the southern summer brood and in northern populations.
Wing Span: 2 15/16 - 4 1/8 inches (7.5 - 10.5 cm).
Life History: 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.
Flight: One brood from May-July in the north, two to three broods from March-September in the south.
Caterpillar Hosts: A variety of trees including white birch (Betula papyrifera), persimmon (Diospyros virginiana), sweet gum (Liquidambar styraciflua), hickories (Carya), walnuts (Juglans), and sumacs (Rhus).
Adult Food: Adults do not feed.
Habitat: Deciduous hardwood forests.
Range: Common. Nova Scotia west to Saskatchewan and eastern North Dakota; south to central Florida, the Gulf Coast, and eastern Texas.
Conservation: Not usually required.
NCGR: G5 - Demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.
Management Needs: None reported.
Comments: NULL
Taxonomy Notes: This moth is often mistakenly referred to as the Lunar Moth, instead of the Luna Moth. It is also sometimes referred to as the American Moon Moth.
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 3402 verified sightings
Observation date: Jun 30, 2026
Submitted by: Susan McSwain
Region: Nelson County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jun 30, 2026
Observation date: Jun 28, 2026
Submitted by: TClingersmith
Region: Eaton County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jun 28, 2026
Observation date: Jun 23, 2026
Submitted by: LazyBonez3221
Region: New Brunswick, Canada
Verified by: Sue Gregoire
Verified date: Jun 24, 2026
Observation date: Jun 23, 2026
Submitted by: Violetkc
Region: Beaufort County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Jun 24, 2026
Observation date: Jun 17, 2026
Submitted by: drifter423
Region: New Brunswick, Canada
Verified by: Sue Gregoire
Verified date: Jun 22, 2026
Observation date: Jun 14, 2026
Submitted by: Mothconcinnity
Region: Morgan County, West Virginia, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jun 20, 2026
Observation date: Jun 03, 2026
Submitted by: LittleWoodSatyr
Region: Defiance County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jun 18, 2026
Observation date: Apr 09, 2026
Submitted by: Thesplee
Region: Boone County, Arkansas, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jun 18, 2026
Observation date: Jun 13, 2026
Submitted by: Stephanie Tremblay
Region: Quebec, Canada
Verified by: Sue Gregoire
Verified date: Jun 14, 2026
Observation date: Jun 12, 2026
Submitted by: Tina Aguiar
Region: Stafford County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jun 12, 2026
Observation date: Jun 05, 2026
Submitted by: Carol52
Region: Daviess County, Kentucky, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jun 05, 2026
Observation date: Jun 04, 2026
Submitted by: Youngsong
Region: McKean County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jun 05, 2026
Observation date: May 26, 2026
Submitted by: Moth_Observer01
Region: Nelson County, Kentucky, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: May 30, 2026
Observation date: Aug 24, 2024
Submitted by: LanaV
Region: Santa Rosa County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: May 27, 2026
Observation date: May 25, 2026
Submitted by: Steven Wilson
Region: Braxton County, West Virginia, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: May 25, 2026
Observation date: May 04, 2022
Submitted by: Rhondag315
Region: Davidson County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: May 23, 2026
Observation date: May 19, 2026
Submitted by: Belinda Knoblock
Region: Putnam County, West Virginia, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: May 20, 2026
Observation date: May 18, 2026
Submitted by: Colleen K
Region: Robertson County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: May 19, 2026
Observation date: May 18, 2026
Submitted by: jules0918
Region: Dutchess County, New York, United States
Verified by: Sue Gregoire
Verified date: May 19, 2026
Observation date: May 10, 2026
Submitted by: Snipez5546
Region: Kenton County, Kentucky, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: May 12, 2026
Observation date: May 06, 2026
Submitted by: Moth_Observer01
Region: Nelson County, Kentucky, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: May 08, 2026
Observation date: May 06, 2026
Submitted by: Margie Labadie
Region: Accomack County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: May 06, 2026
Observation date: Apr 25, 2026
Submitted by: morsman
Region: Johnson County, Kansas, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: May 03, 2026
Observation date: Apr 29, 2026
Submitted by: John LeBlanc
Region: Chesterfield County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: May 03, 2026
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