CLOSED: My first post - be gentle! Moth or caterpillar?

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pirl (Arlene) Southold, NY(Zone 7a) Jun 22, 2009

My husband found this on the lawn today and I'd love to identify it:

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claypa West Pottsgrove, PA(Zone 6b) Jun 22, 2009

Lucky you! It's a Luna Moth, Actias luna:

http://davesgarden.com/guides/bf/go/30/

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pirl (Arlene) Southold, NY(Zone 7a) Jun 22, 2009

Thank you!

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Sheila_FW Fort Worth, TX(Zone 8a) Jun 22, 2009

Pirl...you can tell by the large fern looking antenna that is a male also. Don't be sad for it, they only live a short time as adults because they don't have mouth parts to eat with. Their sole purpose is to mate, lay eggs, and then feed in the caterpillar stage. When they emerge from their cocoon they start serching for a mate to start the whole thing over again.

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pirl (Arlene) Southold, NY(Zone 7a) Jun 22, 2009

Thanks, Sheila. Where would I find photos of it as a caterpillar?

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JuneyBug Dover AFB, DE(Zone 7a) Jun 22, 2009

Google images to the rescue! Here ya' go: http://images.google.com/images?gbv=2&hl=en&ei=bf8_SvKUCYrwswOw8L2gDw&sa=X&oi=spell&resnum=0&ct=result&cd=1&q=Actias+luna+caterpillars&spell=1

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pirl (Arlene) Southold, NY(Zone 7a) Jun 22, 2009

Now why didn't I think of Google? I use it for so many things. Thanks for your help, JuneyBug.

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ReetPetite Albuquerque, NM(Zone 7a) Jun 22, 2009

Pirl, your insect is a Luna Moth. On page 102 of "A Golden Field Guide" but a scientific name was not given. "Handbook for Butterfly Watchers" by Robert M Pyle tells a cute story on page 218 but again no Sci name. On page 154 of "Garden Insects of North America" by Whitney Cranshaw the scientific name of Actias luna is given. This was in italics but this message site did not allow me to use italics. Cranshaw's paragraph said, "known from Texas to Nebraska eastward...has become considerably less abundant in recent decades." The last book is my favorite for I Ds. Many libraries have it but once I saw it, I had to own one ($50 pbk).

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pirl (Arlene) Southold, NY(Zone 7a) Jun 22, 2009

I thank everyone for their help and will now mark this thread closed.

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