Rare and Short Lived Lunar Moth
Based on the climate in which they live, the Luna Moths produce differing numbers of generations. In Canada and northern regions, they can live up to 7 days and will produce only one generation per year. These reach adulthood from early June to early July. In the northeastern United States around New Jersey or New York, the moths produce two generations each year. The first of these appear in April and May, and the second group can be seen approximately nine to eleven weeks later. In the southern United States, there can be as many as three generations. These are spaced every eight to ten weeks beginning in March.
I had one of these beauties on my deck the other day and I don't recall ever seeing anything like it before so I was a little cautious around it. I had no idea what it was until today when I saw a tweet from Everything Georgia @GAFollowers. They posted the picture below calling it a Lunar Moth, so that started my research.
I now have a much better appreciation of this mysterious creature but instinctively had immediate respect when I first discovered it on my deck a few days ago. It stayed in the same place for several days, didn't appear that it had moved at all during that time. I checked on it every morning and then the third or fourth morning, it was gone. It makes me a bit sad that they only live about seven days. I am glad I had the good sense to let it be when I first discovered it.
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Actias luna
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