Luna Moth

Natural Habitat

Luna Moths are found in deciduous forests across North America, from eastern Canada and the Great Plains to northern Mexico. They prefer wooded areas with their host trees.

Diet & Feeding

Adult Luna Moths do not feed. Their mouthparts are vestigial (non-functional). Larvae (caterpillars) feed on the leaves of various deciduous trees, including sweetgum, hickory, sumac, persimmon, and birch.

Behavior Patterns

Adults are nocturnal and active primarily at night. They emerge from cocoons and typically live for about a week. Their primary goal as adults is to mate and lay eggs. They do not feed. Mating usually occurs in the late night hours, and females begin laying eggs shortly after. Larvae (caterpillars) are voracious feeders, molting multiple times before pupating in a silk cocoon, often among leaves on a host tree.

Risks & Benefits

Risks: None to humans. Luna moths are harmless. Benefits: As larvae, they can be part of the food chain for birds and other insectivores. As adults, they play a minor role in pollination, though their lifespan is extremely short and their primary function is reproduction.

Identified on: 8/10/2025