Luna Moth

cfox@mit.edu's picture
June 11, 2017
large green moth on tree, dorsal view
large green moth, face forward view, on human fingers
white bucket, paper egg cartons, and a selection of moths

I got up to find the moth bucket having been knocked over (probably just wind); I righted it carefully, and found a beautiful male luna moth clinging to one of the cords that hold the lid on. Monty coaxed it onto his fingers to go show the kids, then we tried to settle it into his rhododendron bush. I've seen one of these before, but it was Monty's first.

Luna Moth (Actias luna), Jaffrey NH, 06/11/2017.

Addendum: I initially posted this before opening the collecting bucket, which turned out to have two more male luna moths in it - one was lively enough to take to the air in majestic style once released, the other seemed worn and at the end of its life. Other than that, last night's haul brought (by the dozen) Hickory Tussock Moth (Lophocampa caryae) and Rosy Maple Moth (Dryocampa rubicunda), several of which are shown.

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