Moths of North Carolina

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View PDF	Saturniidae Members:	Actias Members:	718 NC Records

Actias luna (Linnaeus, 1758) - Luna Moth

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Taxonomy

Superfamily:
Bombycoidea

Family:
Saturniidae

Subfamily:
Saturniinae

Tribe:
Attacini

P3 Number:
890072

MONA Number:
7758.00

Other Common Names:
North American Luna Moth, North American Moon Moth

Comments: This is the only member of its genus found north of Mexico. A painting of this species was done by Mark Catesby, dated 1743, possibly from specimens collected in the Carolinas. According to Ferguson (1972), Linnaeus mentioned this painting in his description of the species, although the actual type material may have been collected in the Northeast.

Identification

Field Guide Descriptions: Covell (1984); Beadle and Leckie (2012)

Online Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLD

Technical Description, Adults: Forbes (1923), Ferguson (1972), Tuskes et al. (1996)

Technical Description, Immature Stages: Forbes (1923), Ferguson (1972), Tuskes et al. (1996); Covell (1984), Wagner (2005)

Adult Markings: Adults are unmistakable: no other large moth in our area is pale green in color and has long "tails" on its hindwings. Spring individuals typically have narrow red or purplish bands along the outer margins of both wings. In summer individuals, these areas are yellowish.

Wingspan: 100 mm (Forbes, 1923); 7.5 - 10.5 cm (Covell, 1984)

Adult ID Requirements: Unmistakable and widely known.

Immatures and Development: The large, lime-green larvae are also quite distinctive. Although similar to the larvae of the Polyphemus Moth (Antheraea polyphemus), they possess a light yellow lateral stripe that is missing in that species (see Wagner, 2005 for more details).

Larvae ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos, especially where associated with known host plants.

Distribution in North Carolina

Distribution: Occurs state-wide (Brimley, 1938)

County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.


Flight Dates: High Mountains (HM) ≥ 4,000 ft. Low Mountains (LM) < 4,000 ft. Piedmont (Pd) Coastal Plain (CP) Click on graph to enlarge
Immature Dates: High Mountains (HM) ≥ 4,000 ft. Low Mountains (LM) < 4,000 ft. Piedmont (Pd) Coastal Plain (CP) Click on graph to enlarge
Flight Comments: Has two distinct broods over most of the state (Brimley, 1938). The pattern is less clear in the high mountains.

Habitats and Life History

Habitats: Occurs in virtually all types of hardwood forests in the state, from barrier islands (e.g., Fort Macon) to the high mountains (e.g., Great Smoky Mountains National Park). It is also frequently encountered in wooded residential areas.

Larval Host Plants: Larvae feed on many species of hardwood trees and shrubs but not on conifers or herbs (Wagner, 2005). Brimley (1938) reported it feeding on the following species in North Carolina: Sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua), American Persimmon (Diospyros virginiana), hickory (Carya), Black Walnut (Juglans nigra), and Pecan (Carya illinoinensis). Other reported host plants include alder (Alnus), birch (Betula), hazel (Corylus), beech (Fagus), cherry (Prunus), willow (Salix), and Black Tupelo (Nyssa sylvatica) (Covell, 1984; Wagner, 2005). In the Piedmont, Sweetgum seems to be the primary host, but we have also observed larvae feeding on Winged Elm (Ulmus alata) and hickory. - View

Observation Methods: Comes well to 15 watt UV lights and also to incandescent light to some extent. Adults do not feed and consequently are not attracted by bait. Adult females can be tethered in order to attract males via the pheromones they release. Larvae can be detected in low trees and shrubs through their droppings. Like other Saturniids, larvae can be successfully raised in captivity from eggs obtained from captured females (see Tuskes et al., 1996 and Wagner, 2005).

Wikipedia

See also Habitat Account for General Hardwood Forests

Status in North Carolina

Natural Heritage Program Status:

Natural Heritage Program Ranks: G5 SNR [S5]

State Protection: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands

Comments: Populations are locally vulnerable to the effects of weather, outbreaks of disease, parasites, and predators, and to the effects of pesticides. However, given the commonness of their host plants, wide habitat range -- including suburban areas -- and statewide distribution, this species can easily recover from localized losses. In the Northeast, Luna Moths apparently escaped the declines shown in other species of Saturniids and Wagner (2012) considers them to be stable or becoming more frequent. On the other hand, Kellogg et al. (2003) found that Luna Moth caterpillars in central Virginia are parasitized by a Tachinid fly, Compsilura concinnata, that was widely introduced in the Northeast to control Gypsy Moths and other pest Lepidoptera. While the rate of parasitism in Virginia was found to be much lower than in other species studied farther north (see Boettner et al., 2000), this fly represents a serious and pervasive threat for many species of moths and is suspected to be responsible for the marked declines in Saturniids, in particular, farther north. While such impacts have not yet been documented in North Carolina, Compsilura will probably continue to expand its range southward and the situation needs to be monitored.

Photo Gallery for Actias luna - Luna Moth

319 photos are available. Only the most recent 30 are shown.

	Recorded by: Nicole Barker on 2025-07-06 Wayne Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George on 2025-06-29 Moore Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George on 2025-06-29 Richmond Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka, Mark Basinger and Becky Elkin on 2025-06-25 Mitchell Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Dean Furbish, Lior S. Carlson on 2025-06-18 Alamance Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Elizabeth Moraux on 2025-05-27 Rockingham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Simpson Eason on 2025-05-23 Durham Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Stephanie Willis on 2025-05-23 Guilford Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Stephanie Willis on 2025-05-23 Guilford Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-05-19 Wilson Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Carly O'Neill on 2025-05-19 Harnett Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Simpson Eason on 2025-05-18 Durham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Emily Stanley on 2025-04-22 Buncombe Co. Comment:		Recorded by: K. Bischof on 2025-04-22 Chatham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Erin Miller on 2025-04-22 Forsyth Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Linda Gutknecht Asgari on 2025-04-20 Onslow Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-04-19 Brunswick Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-04-18 Brunswick Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Chuck Smith on 2025-04-16 Bladen Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jeff Niznik, David George on 2025-04-05 Chatham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Shields on 2025-04-04 Onslow Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-04-04 Wilson Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: A. Kauppila on 2025-03-28 Burke Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik, Rich Teper on 2025-03-28 Chatham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-09-22 Wilson Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-09-08 Wilson Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jeff Niznik, David George on 2024-09-07 Alamance Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Michael P. Morales on 2024-09-04 Cumberland Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-08-20 Wilson Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George, Steve Hall on 2024-08-19 Chatham Co. Comment: