Green.I took this awhile back,just found the photo,I thought I's ask.It was big whatever it was.
What is this cool looking moth thingy?
It's a Luna Moth. Lucky you! It's just beautiful!
Lucky is right. I would love to see one in the flesh.
I live right by the woods,is that way I saw it?Thanks,Jody
No, I've seen them in urban settings. They tend to come out at night, when most people aren't really looking for winged critters. I've seen one, once, down here at night near my apartment (several years ago). They always make me think of a REALLY old book I read once called "A Girl of the Limberlost" which was a very old fashioned story about this girl who lived out in the woods and would collect moths and butterflies and sell them to pay for school. I think it took place in the 19-teens or something.
Their caterpillars feed on trees, so you have a better chance of seeing them than me. We are supposed to have them here too, but I've not been so lucky. :(
I grew up in the country and we had Lunas every year. Through the years I hadn't seen any - country or city - now, back in the country, I have seen them again. They have always been a favorite of mine.
tgif, welcome to DG! Do you see them near lights only?
John
Yes, they are active at night around lights. Sometimes, we could find them during the day tucked under leaves or other types of cover. We would go outside my Grandparents house in town and make sure there weren't any around the street light right before the bugspray truck (remember those?) came through - don't remember how succesful we were, but it was a good excuse to get out and play in the street. The joys of growing up in a small town!
Maybe its the descendants of the ones you saved that are visiting you now!
I like that thought. I had worried for years that they were a dying beauty. I'm so glad they are still around. If I ever start raising butterflies, that would be my first choice.
Oh the bugspray trucks,wonder if it was DDT way back then,I hated the smell.I remember boys riding their bikes behind the trucks,I wonder if they now have cancer?The good old days were nice though.
Jody
Nice but, somewhat dangerous. I wonder if really do learn from our mistakes. "They" still like to spray.
JodyC & imwaytodumb (by the way, you're not dumb, its just that Mother Nature hasn't finished teaching you yet!) Our game was to take a deep breath, run in behind the truck and see who could stay in the longest. Mom told us not to do that, but.....
If I had to raise kids today I would never let them do the things I did as a child. My world was so much safer than the world the kids of today live in. I feel for them with all the restrictions they have. It limits their imaginations, and they are losing the ability to entertain themselves. No stick horses to conquer the world on. I even met a 19 year old boy who had never seem the Milky Way - didn't really know what it was!
Enough of my soapbox!
ginni
Sad Huh!!!
If you see that kid again let him know that he has seen the Milky Way! In fact he is in it (Earth, too)!
John
heehee we are out real far to one side,right?
I'm not just out in left field, I'm three ballparks away! ( Or should that be generations away?)
Giant ROFL
One reason you don't see lunas as much any more is that they overwinter as a cocoon in fallen leaves, which these days get raked up and bagged or sent off to the compost pile.
I have about 12 acres of woods,none get bagged.lol.Jody