Community identification
Luna Moth Caterpillar
Actias luna
- Order & Family
- Lepidoptera: Saturniidae
- Size
- Up to 7.5 to 9 cm (3 to 3.5 inches) long before pupation
Natural Habitat
Deciduous hardwood forests, woodlands, and suburban areas across eastern North America
Diet & Feeding
Herbivorous larva feeding on leaves of broadleaf trees including walnut, hickory, sweetgum, birch, sumac, and persimmon
Behavior Patterns
Solitary feeder that molts through five instars before descending to the forest floor to spin a silk cocoon within leaf litter; adults do not feed and live only about a week to mate
Risks & Benefits
Harmless to humans with non-stinging bristles; serves as a vital prey species for insectivorous birds and bats, and matures into an iconic, beautiful native silk moth