Saw this beauty yesterday just hanging on the fence - it is not identified in the 1 book I own. Would love to know what it really is.
lunar moth?
Luna moth (Actias luna) (no "r"). Adults have no working mouth parts, so it doesn't feed in this stage at all.
Dale Clark
Dallas County Lepidopterists' Society
www.dallasbutterflies.com
Aren't the gorgeous? We see them were I work. Love 'em!
Barb
Only saw it that day, it was gone the next day. Do you know if they have predators?
As Dale said the adults have no mouth parts to take in nourishment and they don't live long.
They do have predators, as one would imagine, they're big - owls and bats.
I found a site that gives all kinds of good info.
http://www.fcps.edu/islandcreekes/ecology/luna_moth.htm
Barb
Thanks Barb for the site. Such a shame they don't live longer- I think they are very pretty. Will have to watch for the caterpillars but I do not have any of the trees they list. This adult was the first one I've seen here.