Actias luna

Adult female — Scott County (Brian Lowry)

Male and female mating — Hendricks County (Sheryl Price)

The quadripectinate (comb-like on four sides) feathery antennae of a male — Scott County (Brian Lowry)

The quadripectinate (comb-like on four sides) feathery antennae of a female — Hamilton County (Amanda Smith)

Camouflaged adult resting in foliage — Porter County (Mike Slager)

Closeup of the eyespots — Morgan County (Tim Bailey)

Caterpillar close to pupating — Hendricks County (Tina Price)

Emerging adult female — Kosciusko County (Joanna Miller)

An Indiana Native

Actias luna — Luna Moth

(Linneaus, 1758)

Hodges# 7758

Etymology

Actias: In Greek mythology, Actaeus was the first king of Attica, father of Aglaurus, and father-in-law to Cecrops.

Luna: Latin for “moon.” A reference to the luna moth’s moon-like eyespots.

Pronunciation

ak-tee-uhs loo-nuh

Adult Size and Description

Wingspan: 75–135 mm (3–5.3 in), but occasionally to 178 mm (7 in)
Coloration and Patterning:

Seasonally dimorphic. Both sets of wings green but vibrantly colored in the spring and pale in the summer.
Each wing with a single discal eyespot edged in black.
Conspicuous reddish-brown coastal margins on forewings

Sexual Dimorphism:

Male antennae broader than females
“Tails” of females usually shorter than males

Defense Mechanisms:

Crypsis — Leaf coloration
Batesian Mimicry — Discal eyespots
Acoustical diversion — Recent research indicates that the “tails” serve to deflect bat echolocation away from vital body parts (Barber et al. 2015).

Range

This map illustrates documented North American records of Actias luna as of 31 December 2020.

Documented record(s)

Conservation Status — NatureServe Rankings

secure 5: Secure NR: Not ranked

Historical References

Included within Dru Drury’s three-volume Illustrations of Natural History, Wherein are Exhibited Upwards of 240 Figures of Exotic Insects, published between 1770 and 1787, was a plate featuring a luna moth.

In June of 1987, the United States Postal Service issued a stamp commemorating the luna moth as part of their American Wildlife Series.

Floral Associates

Actias luna caterpillars are polyphagous and feed almost exclusively on the foliage of native trees. Adults lack a digestive system, do not eat, and exist solely for reproduction.

Family	Taxonomic Name	Common Name
Known Larval Food Sources in Indiana
Order: Cornales
Nyssaceae	Nyssa sylvatica	black gum, aka tupelo
Order: Ericales
Ebenaceae	Diospyros virginiana	persimmon
Order: Fabales
Fabaceae	Robinia spp.	locusts
Order: Fagales
Betulaceae	Alnus spp.	alders
	Betula spp.	birches
	Carpinus caroliniana	musclewood, aka blue beech
	Ostrya virginiana	hop-hornbeam, aka ironwood
Fagaceae	Castanea dentata	American chestnut
	Fagus grandifolia	American beech
	Quercus spp.	oaks
Juglandaceae	Carya spp.	hickories
	Juglans spp.	black walnut and butternut
Order: Hamamelidales
Platanaceae	Platanus occidentalis	American sycamore
Order: Magnoliales
Magnoliaceae	Liriodendron tulipifera	tulip tree
Order: Malvales
Tiliaceae	Tilia americana	American basswood
Order: Myrtales
Lythraceae	Lythrum spp.	loosestrifes
Order: Rosales
Cannabaceae	Humulus spp.	hops
Rosaceae	Amelanchier spp.	serviceberries
	Prunus spp.	cherries
Ulmaceae	Ulmus spp.	elms
Order: Salicales
Salicaceae	Populus spp.	poplars
	Salix spp.	willows
Order: Sapindales
Aceraceae	Acer spp.	maples
Anacardiaceae	Rhus spp.	sumacs
Hippocastanaceae	Aesculus spp.	buckeyes
Order: Saxifragales
Altingiaceae	Liquidambar styraciflua	American sweetgum

Luna Moth (Actias luna) in Indiana

The map, graph(s), and data below represent the Indiana sightings of Actias luna as of 03 May 2024, confirmed through photographic evidence by individuals who contributed to the Great American IN Nature Lepidoptera Project (GAIN LP).

Occurrences by County

Counties recorded: 67 of 92

Top counties/#of records:
Monroe: 62
Washington: 56
Hamilton: 46
Marion: 40
Brown: 38
Scott: 27
Hendricks: 26

species present icon GAIN LP documented in county

Sightings by Month

Earliest live adult: Brian Lowry, Scott County on 07 April 2012
Latest live adult observation: Angie Valente, Porter County on 07 October 2019

Total Sightings by Year

Total Number of observations (all years combined): 379
Number of field observers: 208

Sightings by Gender

Image Gallery

The images and records below were all submitted by individuals through the Great American Indiana Nature Lepidoptera Project (GAIN LP).

Additional Sources

Barber, Jesse & Leavell, Brian & Keener, Adam & Breinholt, Jesse & Chadwell, Brad & McClure, Christopher & Hill, Geena & Kawahara, Akito. 2015. Moth tails divert bat attack: Evolution of acoustic deflection. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 112. 2812-2816. 10.1073/pnas.1421926112.