Ghostly traveler in the pale moonlight

[Trehopr1]

Soon with the coming of spring eastern North America's
"loveliest" of moths will begin to make its appearance.
This somewhat large, graceful, and captivating moth is
"unique" amongst all of our native species. With its bright
green color and flowing tails the Luna Moth (Actias luna)
attracts attention wherever it may be found.



In the woodlands and wayside's of our more rural spaces the
Luna moth may sometimes be glimpsed only as a ghostly
traveler in the pale moonlight; the moonlight of coarse
passing through the sheer wings and reflective wing color.
One could say that these lovely creatures appear almost as
"little pale spirits" floating around (here and there) on the
peripheral edge of campfire light and the darkness beyond.

More often however, a casual observer may see one resting
on a barn door under a light or on the well-lit side of a
building.

Luna moths tend to be creatures of old growth forests. Favorite
foodplants include such fine trees as persimmon, walnut, hickory,
beech, and sweet gum. Occasionally, forest remnants or "pockets"
can produce and sustain localized populations which show up (here
and there) in areas otherwise long devoid of the species...

Most places which harbor luna moths average at least 2 broods
(spring + summer) however, southern states tend to see a 3rd
brood produced (as more of an average). The sexes of luna moths
differ somewhat in that males are a brighter/bolder green color
(than their female counterparts), antennae are plumose whilst
females are threadlike, and even the hair covering the bodies is
diffrent with (males) being a yellow-white and that of (females)
a pure white.

Here is a partial 1/2 drawer of personal captures.



Luna moths are apparently fairly easy to breed (never done it) and
many saturniid enthusiasts do for a crop of marketable material.
Naturally, these are VERY popular in artwork --- almost as much so
as Morpho's.

Speaking for myself, I love the mystique or aura surrounding the
notoriety of the Luna so, I prefer to "wild capture" the best I can
run across (for my collection). Not as "easy-peasy" as one would
think. Luna moths (like all large moths) make for tempting morsels
particularly for bats and also for birds alike. Also, tails are easily
damaged or lost and wings become "marred" with every passing day
that a moth survives !

I've always loved the look of the Luna Moth since I was probably
6 or 7 years old (having seen it in my first insect book). It should
NEVER be "taken for granted" because some day it could largely
disappear or become greatly diminished much as our native Cecropia
moth has become.

So, thanks for tuning-in on another talk of something entomological !

Perhaps, you too have a ghostly traveler who follows the moonbeams
in the pale moonlight....

[boghaunter1]

A few personal thoughts,

My sister, who lives in the nearby town of Hudson Bay, here in NE central Saskatchewan, discovered a beautiful fresh male luna moth on the wall of her house, directly below a bug zapper, one night in late June 2022. First time in her life (73 years) she ever saw one. I would venture to guess that 99% of the people up here have never seen a live one. I (the lucky collector!) have, on the other hand, been fortunate, & have collected them on a number of occasions in that same area where ever it's main foodplant grows, old mature stands of White Paper Birch.

I caught a one & only (in 40 years!) single, nice male luna myself many years ago in my home yard. It was clinging to the clear vanes on one of my BL traps... I was surprised to find it in such an exposed position, at noon, one sunny day when I arrived home from an extended weekend collecting trip. I have about 2 dozen specimens in my collection from about 5-6 different, widely scattered locations in my area. I, on one occasion only, reared a few to adults on birch, from a ragged female drawn to my sheets in the H.B., region. Only one generation, in June, a year, up here. They, surprisingly, occur much farther north... an older, (now passed), insect scientist friend of mine recorded one fresh specimen (photo) 30 miles (50 kms) north of La Ronge, SK about 120+ miles (200+ kms) NNW of my location. This is well up in the PreCambrian rocky shield/boreal forest area of northern SK.

These are certainly exquisite, delicate creatures & seeing them gently flutter down, out of the dark, to the sheets is always thrilling... like beautiful little angels, with those long trailing tails on their wings, dropping, often unexpectantly out of the sky.

I always think to myself how regular people (non-collectors) see all the pretty Luna moth displays on Ebay & quickly snap/bid them up... sadly within a year or two these beautiful moths bleach out to white... certainly disappointing. Pigment based greens & all the other muted pastel browns, blacks, grays, pinks, yellows readily bleach out, in short order, even in subdued sun/artificial light; I certainly never buy or mount any giant silk moths in Rikers for open display. All my moths are in darkened drawers (except for a few with iridescent, metallic, structural coloration). Even then moths tend to lose their initial bright colors over the years. We've all seen those estate sale treasures offered on Ebay of completely bleached Atlas moths, & others, described as some wonderful new or RARE forms... of course... only very old light bleached examples. I have my own very old bleached out Atlas moth, in a Riker mount, that I bought from BioQuip when I was 15 years old (47 years ago!) Yes BioQuip did, at one point early on, sell limited numbers of leps, mounted up in Rikers that long ago... in my case in 1975.

John K.

[livingplanet3]

Excellent post, Trehopr1 - your comments on this species certainly reflect my own thoughts. I've looked forward to seeing Luna Moths every spring, ever since encountering this species in my youth; was totally amazed by the first one I ever saw, and still am. It seems that I'm right at the westernmost extent of this moth's range. I've collected a number of gravid females that have come to my porch light over the years, and reared many larvae to adults; was quite an experience!

[Trehopr1]

I have always read and (been told) by collectors that Luna cocoons are near impossible to locate. Because, of their habit of spinning their cocoons amongst the leaf litter they largely go unnoticed.

Polyphemus on the other hand may be found in low bushes or hanging from tree branches although, I have found two or three in my life at the bases of silver maple trees.

I actually have around 20 Luna moth specimens in my collection (kind of spread out) between a couple of drawers and with some in unit trays. Virtually all are self-caught examples. I never "tire" of finding nice examples when possible....