Community identification
Luna Moth Caterpillar
Actias luna
- Order & Family
- Lepidoptera: Saturniidae
- Size
- Up to 7.5 cm (3 inches) in length
Natural Habitat
Deciduous forests and woodlands across eastern North America
Diet & Feeding
Feeds on leaves of broadleaf trees including walnut, hickory, sweetgum, birch, and persimmon
Behavior Patterns
Active mainly during late spring and summer. They undergo five larval instars before spinning a silken cocoon among leaf litter to pupate. Adults do not feed and live only about a week to mate.
Risks & Benefits
Harmless to humans with no sting. Beneficial as pollinators in adult stage and serve as a food source for wildlife.