Looks like a Ray
Location: Putnam County, New York
June 4, 2011 3:01 pm
Hi I saw this the other day when I filled my gas tank. Look so unusual( to me anyway)aorta looked like a manta ray. Love to know more about it.
Signature: Thank you
Luna Moth at the ATM
Gas Stations are magnets for certain insects that are attracted to bright lights at night and gas stations that are near wooded, swampy and otherwise open spaces are the richest hunting grounds for Giant Silkmoths, Toe-Biters, Beetles and Sphinx Moths. This beauty is a Luna Moth. If we ever decide to make another calendar, this is exactly the type of image we would use in it.
Thank you. I had never seen anything like it, did a little more research and learned it only lives about a week. No wonder.
Thanks again.
large moth
Location: NE CT
May 26, 2011 6:02 am
My wife found this in the garage last night. Appx 4 inches wide and 4 inches long.
Signature: Kim & Tom
Luna Moth
Dear Kim & Tom,
Thanks for reporting that Luna Moth sightings have reached more northern states.
2
Moth found in central Pa
Location: trout run pennsylvania cascade township
May 17, 2011 3:21 am
what is this thing. I have seen it 2 times both at night. It is dead now on the 2nd night.it has a big white body. I’m in a wooded area in north central Pennsylvania.
Signature: Ann Smith
Luna Moth
Dear Ann,
Each year we track the northward emergence of the Luna Moths, and your Pennsylvania encounter is the most northern sighting we have received thus far this year.
thank you dan. I watched this moth all night it was raining most of the Night and I honestly thought it was dying. It didn’t die .I went to see it around 6 am it was shaking alot .I checked on it all night and then at 6:15 am it was gone. If anyone gets a chance to see this luna moth they are very pretty in color. awesome sighting.
BIG green flying insect
Location: South, west Virginia
May 9, 2011 3:09 pm
Found this hanging on the porch the other night, HELP please should we move? Thank you, Tim
Signature: however you like
Luna Moth
Dear Tim,
This gorgeous creature is a Luna Moth and we have been tracking the emergence of Luna Moths in the more northern latitudes as the weather warms and spring conditions come to the higher latitudes. There is no need to move. The Luna Moth is perfectly harmless.
Big green moth/butterfly
Location: Southeast Iowa
May 8, 2011 9:53 am
Found this on my shed this morning. About 4×4 inches, bright green. Can you tell me what it is? Just lovely!
Signature: shaylyn
Luna Moth
Dear Shaylyn,
You have been lucky enough to encounter a Luna Moth, a species unlikely to be confused with any other North American moth.
Since I love butterflies and moths, this made my day! What a lovely thing! And in Iowa! I understand that’s a bit rare. Thanks for your reply, maybe I should have purchased a lottery ticket!
Sherry
Hi again Sherry,
Luna Moths seem to either be very common in parts of their range, or virtually absent. They require a habitat with needed food plants. They are represented on this Iowa State University Horticulture web page, and BugGuide does report other sightings from Iowa though that does appear to be the most westerly range at your latitude. There are more southern sightings as far west as Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas.
Mothra??
Location: Oklahoma
April 30, 2011 8:31 pm
This GINORMOUS moth is sitting on the edge of our house! Do you know what kind it is?
Signature: Elizabeth
Luna Moth
Hi Elizabeth,
At the end of February, we received our first report this season of a Luna Moth sighting, and the letter indicated there was a swarm in Texas. That prompted us to name the Luna Moth the Bug of the Month for March. Other reports followed from the southern most portion of the range of the Luna Moth. As the weather warms in the northern climes, Luna Moth sightings will begin to come to us, generally culminating in reports from Maine and Canada in May and June. Sightings from later in the season will then come from the southern portion of the range as there are two broods in the South. It is highly unlikely that the Luna Moth would be confused with any other North American species.
Luna moth in Florida
Location: Gainesville, FL
March 23, 2011 3:32 pm
This morning before work, I noticed a luna moth on my neighbor’s window. I was in a rush, so I wasn’t able to go get a camera.
I was pleased to find that it was still there when I got home! I’m pretty sure this area is within their natural range (Gainesville, FL) but I don’t remember ever seeing one around here before.
Since I’m almost certain this is a luna moth, there’s no need to identify it, but hopefully the pictures are nice enough to keep!
Signature: L. Z.
Luna Moth
Dear L.Z.,
The Luna Moth most certainly ranges in Florida, though this is the first Floridian example we have received this year.
Luna Moth in SC
Location: Lexington, SC
March 20, 2011 9:51 am
I saw this beautiful moth on a sidewalk while shopping on March 19. I took a photo and identified it on the Internet the next day. Imagine my surprise! It appears to be a male Luna Moth, seen here on a sidewalk in Lexington, SC (central SC, near the capital of Columbia). I wish I had ”rescued” it, although I don’t know what I would have done, except perhaps bring it to the woods right behind my house. I’m horrified to know that I left it there to probably be trampled.
Signature: Sad in SC
Luna Moth
Hi Sad in SC,
If it is any consolation, Luna Moths only live a few days as adults and they do not feed. Adults mate, the female lays eggs, and both quickly die. Luna Moths have many predators, and part of their function in the intricate and confusing web of life is to provide food to other creatures. We would like to think that this beauty lived to mate since he is such a handsome specimen. Your letter represents the first report we have received this year of a Luna Moth other than from Texas. As spring nears, sightings will move north, and by May we should be hearing from readers in Maine and Canada.
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