Talk:Luna moth

New Picture
I have taken a picture of a female Luna moth with a wingspan of about 7.5 inches. The article describing the Luna moth gives it a wingspan of up to 4.5 inches. This should be changed since it is evident from my picture the wingspan can be much greater. Please note the moth on the brick in front of the window. I can be reached at jimdrummo@comcast.net if you like. I am located 15 miles northeast of Pittsburgh, PA. Jim Drummond (talk) 05:57, 18 September 2010 (UTC)

I have also took a picture of female Luna moth Saba imran bhat (talk) 09:26, 9 May 2019 (UTC)

But o don't know how to upload that picture here Saba imran bhat (talk) 09:31, 9 May 2019 (UTC)

On Luna Moths
Luna moths can be a valued learning opportunity for kids and families. We have found four luna moth cocoons, suspended them from a cage, and have awaited their arrival. At times, the luna moth will move in its cocoon and make sounds like a fidgeting mouse. Today, my kids excitedly met me at the door to tell me a moth has hatched, and sure enough, one beautiful luna moth held nicely to its old cocoon to show off its beauty.

we found a Luna Moth!
We found a Luna Moth! it is so so big and beautiful!

Scientific name
Should this article really be under the scientific name? What is the reason for this? I haven't seen any other such article. You might as well change Gray wolf to Canis lupis, and likewise for every other living creature. The title of the article should be something people recognize. How many people will see "Actias luna" and say, "oh, that's a luna moth." This would especially be a problem if the article was in a list somewhere, which it very well could be. If no good reason for this change is proposed, I plan on reverting it in a few days.--Sarabi1701 02:13, 19 May 2006 (UTC)
 * I did it to help standardize things. No, no other article is going to have a problem because I changed all the articles linking to Luna moth to link to Actias luna. All of the articles I created are under the scientific name (in Sphingidae and Saturniidae) including most of them here. Yes, I would changed gray wolf to the scientific name and have the colloquial name redirect, but I'm working in Lepidoptera. I'd prefer if you didn't change it back, it's simply not encyclopedic to not use scientific names when addressing biodiversity. I've also done it to several other pages including Mutillidae and Sialidae without complaint. One of my main beefs is that other things may be under the colloquial name (for example, if gray wolf was also a product or company) and putting gray_wolf_(biology) is much tackier and less rational that Canis lupis. If you have any more questions, please mention them before reverting the change.--Kugamazog 02:52, 19 May 2006 (UTC)
 * Ok, so, I found this section in a Wikiproject that might help us...click here. I know it's just a suggested guidline, but I think it's a good suggestion.  Living organisms that are well known to the general public should be under their common names, so gray wolf should stay gray wolf, as should cat, horse, tiger, and so on.  I will admit, the luna moth is not so well known...so, perhaps it should stay under it's scientific name...I guess I could get used to it :-p  Well, goodluck in your entomology studies! ~ Sarabi1701 16:49, 19 May 2006 (UTC)

Thank you
Thanks for the LOVELY article. I was blessed to see one flittering about a light in the SOUTH at night and it was like looking at a fairy. It is one of the most beautiful moments in my life and I will never forget that, in the creatures brief one-week life at this stage, I was fortunate enough to witness its beauty.

I saw my first and only luna moth when one flew into my bathroom at night while I lived in B'ham Alabama. As a transplanted Californian I was at first startled and then delighted. I'd never seen anything so unusual or beautiful. For once I had the humidity to thank. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 98.119.151.233 (talk) 05:05, 24 June 2013 (UTC)

Image question
This image is of what I know as a luna moth. THe grid is s screen, the moth was on the outside, so it is an image of the underside of the insect. I put iot here wioth questions. What luna moth is it, and is a picture such as this right for Wikipedia?

--Dumarest 12:05, 21 September 2006 (UTC)
 * It's definitely a luna moth (if you're in the US I should say) but the picture is rather small and the screen removes any details of the moth so I would say it's not really suitable for the page. Feel free to ask any other questions :) --Kugamazog 21:12, 26 September 2006 (UTC)


 * Agreed - I am in the U.S., Maine. It is not that common to get a view of the underside of a live moth, and given the chance, I took it - screen or not. Did you look at the image itself - the one in Talk is a thumb. But the larger one has the screen more prominent. So, a little sorry, I will erase the image from Wiki. Thanks for your response. --Dumarest 19:48, 27 September 2006 (UTC)

I was recently out in the woods and came across what appears to be a Luna Moth caterpillar, but the markings seem much more colourful than the pictures I find here and elsewhere. Is the colour element a characteristic of a particular phase, environment, etc? Luna Moth Caterpillar picture —Preceding unsigned comment added by Ethanhb (talk • contribs) 03:38, 24 September 2007 (UTC)


 * That is very likely a Cecropia caterpillar (Hyalophora cecropia) --Kugamazog (talk) 21:57, 8 October 2008 (UTC)

The ventral image, left here
Can't give up - one does not often see the ventral of a live moth, so I leave it here.--Dumarest 21:22, 9 November 2006 (UTC)

Conservation status
I believe this is endangered in part of its range. 66.41.66.213 01:55, 12 November 2006 (UTC)


 * According to NatureServe Explorer, Actias luna is not officially endangered anywhere. It is considered secure (N5) in both Canada and the US, and apparently secure (S4) in both Ontario and Québec (US states have not yet ranked A. luna).


 * Threats: The only real concern appears to be the out of control introduced biocontrol Compsilura concinnata (Diptera: Tachinidæ) which has impacted this and other large moths in New England and vicinity. however there is no clear evidence such impacts are spreading, although the fly is, and there has been obvious recovery since the low point in the 1970s. At present luna moth appears unthreatened in about 90% or more of its range and unlike some compsilura victims, luna moth has not been actually extirpated from any significant area. FUNgus guy 20:15, 17 November 2006 (UTC)

hi we saw a female luna moth last nite on our porch. It was beautiful. We live in marlton NJ 7/31/09 —Preceding unsigned comment added by 71.169.83.9 (talk) 17:20, 31 July 2009 (UTC)

Host plants
List of host plants should include gardenia. I have a magnificent green caterpillar happily munching on my gardenia plant at this moment. It is a beautiful creature now, and I can imagine what a glorious moth "LuLu" will become. 96.253.121.96 (talk) 20:07, 29 August 2009 (UTC)

Luna Moth Picture
A Luna Moth flew into my garage last night and I took a great picture of it. Much more colorful than the one posted on the main page. I have no idea how to submit the photo for review. The flickr link is: http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4044/4502895790_2fa0568968_o.jpg Thanks, NicoleSquiggly (talk) 20:49, 8 April 2010 (UTC)

Size of Luna moths
I've also seen Luna moths nearly as wide and long as the top section of a screen door, in southeastern Virginia. They definitely get bigger than 4.5 inches. 99.36.206.41 (talk) 15:42, 13 May 2011 (UTC)

Minor edit to wingspan
Millimeter value added in brackets. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Atreyiu (talk • contribs) 23:28, 19 May 2012 (UTC)

Bioluminescence
Should add a mention of bioluminescence in this species, with a ref. Article needs better refs and copy-editing, too. Chiswick Chap (talk) 21:59, 10 March 2013 (UTC)
 * Nothing in literature search. Wrong species? David notMD (talk) 02:16, 31 July 2018 (UTC)

Considering Good Article nomination
For a very popular moth, the article could use massive improvements in content and referencing, and then a nomination for Good Article status. Working on it. David notMD (talk) 13:51, 30 July 2018 (UTC)

The article has a LONG history of people adding and other people deleting mentions of Luna moths in popular culture (including video games). My inclination is to leave all of this except the postage stamp mention out. Such a list could go on and on and on, and add little to the knowledge about the species. However, an opposing point of view can be seen in the article Death's-head hawkmoth, where there is an "In popular culture" section. But please, keep the THE HUNGER GAMES mention out of it. That was a one-liner about a "green-and-silver moth," which clearly means Collins did not even bother to look up a plausible moth description. David notMD (talk) 14:43, 30 July 2018 (UTC)

Egg fertilization observation
This from a person who raises and sells Luna moth eggs and cocoons: "Most females remain still for two to three nights. They are conserving energy, but are actively seeking a mate by extending a scent gland from the tip of the abdomen at night. If not mated by end of third evening will stop "calling" and start laying infertile eggs. The eggs do not become fertile at the time of copulation. The eggs get fertilized as they pass through a mix of male sperm, seminal fluids and "glue", stored in the female's body. This immersion/fertilization takes place as the female expels/deposits the eggs. Thus eggs deposited four days before other eggs will usually hatch four days earlier, even though they have come from the same female." David notMD (talk) 16:47, 2 September 2018 (UTC)

Research idea
Walnut, hickory and pecan leaves all contain juglone. Luna moth larvae use regurgitated food as a predator deterrent. Effectiveness could be that it contains juglone. Comparison would be to larvae fed white birch or sweet gum. David notMD (talk) 00:53, 1 September 2018 (UTC)

Found in India Maharashtra from Kokan Division
Tonight 12th June 2020 (Corona Lockdown) I found a rare species of butterflies named Luna moth I located in India Maharashtra from konkan Division Sindhudurga District Village Gaorai. I have lots of good pictures and videos of it. Kindly contact me for photos and video on below contact details. Sundar Samant Email. SUNDAR000049@gmail.com Mob No. 7666784696 Sundar YS (talk) 16:39, 12 June 2020 (UTC)

Wiki Education assignment: General Entomology
— Assignment last updated by ReeseWB (talk) 13:47, 28 November 2022 (UTC)