Large, furry, moth with leaf like wings?
April 19, 2010
My bug loving children squealed for me to grab my camera when they spotted this beautiful gal in the driveway just now. She’s so brightly colored and furry. I’ve never seen anything like this and would love to know if she is a moth. She’s about two inches long. Her wings look like leaves. Her beige antennae are an amazing feathery detail. Her legs are furry and red while her body is white. Any help is appreciated. I tried to get detailed photos to fully capture her beauty.
Resa in Atlanta
Atlanta, GA
Luna Moth
Furry Moth…one more thing…
April 19, 2010
Whoa! I just noticed in my photos that the moth’s wings changed colors from the yellowish on the ground to a bright green when she walked onto the stick. Are they still developing or do they have ninja skills?
Sorry for duping the pics. Seems I can’t just send a whoa revelation without a pic.
Luna Moth
Hi Resa,
Your Luna Moth is freshly metamorphosed, having just emerged from its cocoon. Its wings are not yet expanded for flight. That should take a few additional hours, and it should be ready to fly after sunset.
Finally found a luna moth
April 18, 2010
Hello again!
Last time you heard from me was my submission of the Io moth transformation. As I mentioned I had been hoping to see a Luna moth for a very long time; I have been living here in central Florida for the past 13 years. Today – April 18th – is the day I finally found one.
I had actually just finished my Senior Prom yesterday and I was about to return my tuxedo in Winter Garden when I noticed this beauty on the wall. I love how these things work out! I promptly brought it to in my house so I could take a picture using a more suitable camera than my cell phone.
A bit of the rear left tail seems to be missing, but it seems quite capable of flight without it.
Now I can set a new goal: finding a Red Spotted Purple butterfly. Guess I had better head back to the forests!
Carl B. – Aspiring Entomologist
Clermont, FL
Luna Moth
Hi Carl,
Congratulations on your Luna Moth sighting. Despite living in Ohio for 22 years, we were never fortunate enough to see a live Luna Moth, but we did see numerous Red Spotted Purples. Try looking where there are willows or poplars.
Greenish Moth with Tail
April 12, 2010
I assume this is some type of moth, but I’m really unsure.
Eric James
Atlanta, GA
Luna Moth
Hi Eric,
This is a Luna Moth.
Luna Moth
April 9, 2010
Thanks to your website we were able to identify the green bug on our garage.
It is a luna moth and very beautiful.
Jodie
Suburbs of Chicago, IL
Luna Moth
Hi Jodie,
Thanks for sending us your photo of a Luna Moth.
Large Green Butterfly-like Bug
April 8, 2010
This was on garage door this afternoon. What is it?
Sincerely
Cedar Hill, TX
Luna Moth
We never tire of posting images of Luna Moths.
Luna Moth Picture–Close up of Face!
April 2, 2010
Hi,
I was going through your luna moth page to see the what pictures you had and noticed that the last time you posted a close-up of a luna moth’s face was in 2005. That’s why I thought you might enjoy this picture I took last April. I assume that because of the bushy antennae that this is a male. After taking several photos, I put him back on the shed I found him on and a few hours later he was gone. In the fifteen years I’ve lived in Oklahoma, this is the only luna moth that I have found. Thanks for the great site.
Josh Kouri
Oklahoma
Luna Moth
Hi again Josh,
Thanks for resending this. We remember seeing the photo last week, but we were too busy to post it. You are correct. This is a male.
Male or Female Luna Moth?
March 23, 2010
I commented earlier on Susan’s Luna moth and wanted to share my photos of the one I saw the same day, except late in the evening. Susan is from Houston and I live about 30 miles east of Houston out I-10. I just thought it was incredible someone saw one so close to me when I’ve never seen one my entire life. It was truly an awesome experience. I wish I’d know how lucky I was to see one because I would have tried to keep it more protected and then saved it for my grandkids when it died. Bummer. I think this is a male, but thought I’d ask just to make sure. One other thing that I didn’t realize until after reviewing the photos later in the evening, was in the pictures you can’t see 2 of the spots on the wings, but I clearly remember seeing them several times. Is this something they can activate as a defense? Kind of turn em on and off?
Juju
Hankamer, TX (Between Baytown and Beaumont)
Luna Moth
Hi Juju,
Based on the feathery antennae, we agree this is a male Luna Moth who uses his antennae to sniff out the pheromones of a female. The eyespots are a natural feature that are not turned on or off.
Strange green moth
March 21, 2010
My boyfriend found this strange green moth on his patio screen. Neither of us have seen a moth like this before. We live in Jacksonville, Florida and this past weekend had really warm temperatures.
Sarah
Jacksonville, FL
Luna Moth
Hi Sarah,
Just two days ago we posted our first Luna Moth image of the year from Texas. Your photo is the second for the year of this lovely moth.
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