The luna moth, or American moon moth, is a large Nearctic moth from the Saturniidae family, known as giant silk moths. It has striking lime-green wings and a white body, with caterpillars that are also green. The moth’s wingspan typically measures about 114 mm but can reach up to 178 mm (7 inches), making it one of North America’s larger moths. In Canada, it produces one generation per year, with adults emerging in late May or early June. In southern regions of the United States, it can have two or three generations, with the first appearing as early as March. For defense, luna moth larvae emit warning clicks and regurgitate intestinal contents to deter predators, while the elongated tails on the moth’s hindwings may disrupt the echolocation of predatory bats. A parasitoid fly, introduced to control the invasive spongy moth, has negatively affected luna moths and other native moth species.
Credit: Information summarized from Wikipedia.
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