The Luna Moth, Actias luna, is a North American insect recognized by its pale, lime-green wings, long tails, and a wingspan that can reach four and a half inches. Each wing displays a transparent, moon-like eyespot, giving the moth its name. Attracting this large silk moth requires establishing the necessary habitat for its life cycle and using targeted methods to bring the nocturnal adults into view.
Cultivating Host Plants and Shelter
Attracting the Luna Moth long-term begins with supporting the caterpillar stage, as the adult moths do not feed. Females lay their eggs on specific deciduous trees, which serve as the larval host plants. To encourage a population to establish in your yard, consider planting native species such as Sweetgum, Walnut, Birch, or Hickory, which are all documented food sources for the caterpillars.
The caterpillars feed and grow for several weeks before descending to the ground to pupate. They spin a thin, silken cocoon among the fallen leaves where it overwinters in the leaf litter. Avoiding the removal of leaf litter in the fall and minimizing the use of broad-spectrum pesticides on host trees provides the necessary shelter for the moth to complete its metamorphosis and ensures the survival of the next generation.
Active Methods: Light and Pheromones
To actively draw in adult Luna Moths for observation, light is the most effective tool, as they exhibit a behavior called positive phototaxis. Standard outdoor lighting is generally less effective because moths are most strongly attracted to shorter wavelengths of light, specifically in the ultraviolet (UV) spectrum. Setting up a black light or a more powerful mercury vapor lamp will yield the best results for attracting this species.
The most common setup involves hanging a vertical white sheet and illuminating it with a UV light source after dark. The white material provides a highly visible background for the moths to land upon, making them easier to observe and photograph. While other moth species can be attracted by a sugary bait mixture, adult Luna Moths lack functional mouthparts and do not feed, making this technique ineffective. Instead, males are attracted over long distances by pheromones released by the flightless female, which is the natural mechanism for short-term attraction.
Optimal Timing for Observation
The active season for Luna Moths spans from spring through summer, with the number of generations, or broods, varying by geographic latitude. Northern regions may see only one generation per year, while southern areas can experience two or three broods between March and August. Sightings often occur first in late spring, continuing periodically into the warmer months.
The best time to look for Luna Moths is during the darkest hours of the night when they are most active. Males fly to locate females, a process that often begins after midnight and continues until the pre-dawn hours. Since the adult lifespan is very short—typically less than ten days—observing them requires patience and consistency during the flight season.