Luna moths often fall prey to bats, spiders, toads, owls and other birds. I'd like to keep it until it's a moth but I'm not sure what to feed it! Founded in North America, these striking caterpillars have a circular design on their wings that bear a resemblance to the moon. Lepidoptera is the order of insects that include moths, butterflies and skippers. With few exceptions, adult butterflies and moths eat only various liquids to maintain their water balance and energy stores. Luna Moths, which are scientifically called Actias Luna, are giant green moths that don’t have a long lifespan (about a week) after they’re done hatching from their cocoon. Scientists aren’t sure why nature designed certain types of moth without a mouth. It will live for only about a week as an adult, during which time it mates, and the female lays her eggs. Luna moths get their name from the Latin word “Luna” which means “Moon.” For the very reason that they live only for 10 days as a winged adult after almost a year of growth as an egg, larvae and pupa, they are believed to have different symbolism associated with them. After the luna moth caterpillar has actually become a moth with wings, it no longer has a digestive system. Luna moths are beautiful moths with light green wings and a long tail. Luna Moth Facts (At A Glance) Scientific name: Actias luna Type of Animal: Insect Animal Family: Saturniidae (the giant silk moth family) Where Found: North America Pupae Body Length: 2.75 to 3.5 in. The tails on the hindwings of luna moths apparently disrupt the sonar that hunting bats use to locate the moths. However, they will still try to defend themselves from predators in the wild, such as bats. This moth's wingspan can stretch four and a half inches—that's about the same length as an iPhone. All stages provide food for predators. One such popular moth in our region is the luna moth (Actias luna). Benny Mazur / CC BY [2.0] A luna moth larva (caterpillar) is large (up to 3.5 in. Because there are so few, and they are nocturnal insects, it is very rare for people to see this unique moth. That is why the luna moth can only live for about a week after it comes out of the cocoon.
What do luna moths eat? All you need to do is place several sticks from the floor tilted up to the side of the shelter so the caterpillars have somewhere to prepare for their metamorphosis, and so adult luna moths have a place to climb and stretch their wings.
The luna is one of the largest of moths in North America, with a wingspan of 4.5 inches. How To Identify A Luna Moth Caterpillar. Luna moth caterpillars are herbivores that graze on the vegetation of trees. The caterpillars of luna moths can make clicking noises and vomit to deter predators. Most adults sip flower nectar, but other imbibe fluids from sap flowers on trees, rotting fruits, bird droppings, or animal dung. What do butterflies and moths eat? Suddenly the insect spreads its wings to reveal their great size. Most female luna moths lay about 200 eggs in small batches on the undersides of leaves. CATERPILLAR CRAVINGS Found only in North America, the luna moth starts out as a very hungry caterpillar. 5 Quick Facts about the Luna Moth Luna moth adult (Photo: Flicker Sharing pdbreen) Luna Moth Facts This time of year there is a fun abundance of moths and insects flying around at night, and often hanging on buildings during the day. In the northern climates where luna moths only emerge and breed annually, the adults are living on the fat stores accumulated as a caterpillar in the summer of the year before.