Western NC Fauna: the Luna Moth

The mountains of Western North Carolina are known for their rich culture, their majestic views, their fresh air, and their beautiful landscape. However, when it comes right down to it, the most inspirational aspects of the mountains lie in the details; the individual components that make up the grander whole.

The image to your left is of a rare luna moth, an ethereal creature that shows itself to only the very lucky, or the very observant. One of our customers was kind enough to take a photo of this fragile creature and send it to us after his recent trip to his mountain home.

Luna Moths are members of the Saturniidae family, also known as the "Giant Silkworm Moths." They are relatively large, with a wingspan of four and a half inches.

They fly, only at night, in Spring and early Summer. The female Luna Moth lays eggs on the bottom of Black Walnut leaves. She lays about 200 eggs in small groups. Once the eggs are laid, it takes about 10 days for them to hatch. Caterpillars begin eating as soon as they leave the egg.

The Pupae eat leaves from many different trees and shrubs, including: Sweetgum, American Beech, Red Maple, hickories, White Oak, Black Cherry, willows, American Chestnut, and Smooth Sumac.

The caterpillars will continue to eat and grow, molting their skins as they grow. They will do this five times over a period of three to four weeks.

When the caterpillar is fully grown, it will be 2 1/2 inches long and ready to become a pupa. It will spin silk from near its mouth and wrap itself in a leaf. The caterpillar will usually stay in this cocoon for two to three weeks. If it is near winter, the caterpillar will wait until Spring to hatch

When the adult Luna Moth leaves its cocoon, it is not ready to fly. Its wings are short and stumpy and the insect needs to rest. It usually hatches in mid-morning and climbs a tree trunk to hang its wings, so they can fill with blood. Once the wings are inflated, the adult moth will wait until nightfall to fly off to find a mate.

Adult Luna Moths don't eat; in fact, they don't even have a mouth. They only live for about a week, and their only purpose is to mate. Only the good die young... or in this case the magnificent.

Western NC Fauna: the Luna Moth