The Luna Moth or Moon Moth

Life Cycle of the Luna or Moon Moth

Actias luna (Linnaeus)
The Luna or Moon Moth, like all Lepidoptera, undergoes a complete metamorphosis which consists of four distinct stages.
1. Egg (ovum)
2. Larva or caterpillar
3. Pupa
4. Adult (imago)
The larval stage is the only stage where growth occurs. The eggs, pupae or adults do not grow. (This means that small moths or butterflies do not grow into larger moths or butterflies).

I have raised the Luna or Moon Moth on Black Walnut (Juglans nigra) and Shagbark Hickory (Carya ovata). According to my records, the larvae fed on Walnut developed faster, grew bigger and pupated at least 10 days ahead of those fed on Hickory.

Luna Moth Eggs

Luna Moth Caterpillar or Larva

Outer cover of Luna Moth Pupa

Silk-like cover over naked Pupa

Naked Pupa

When the caterpillar of the Luna Moth gets ready to pupate or change from a caterpillar into a pupa, it rolls itself into the leaves of its food plant. Next, it secretes some kind of a chemical which turns into a protective silk-like covering. After that, it changes itself completely into the pupa which has a hard outer skeleton and is soft and mushy inside. The cells inside this hard outer covering rearrange themselves slowly and eventually turn into the beautiful moths we see below.

Luna or Moon Moth female

Luna or Moon Moth male