On a beautiful April day in 2016, I came upon a fascinating Luna Moth near my home in Arkansas at around 3:00 PM. Unfortunately, the moth was missing a hind wing, but it still amazed me with its striking appearance. The Luna Moth is known for its large size and beautiful green color, which is a result of reflecting light rather than pigmentation.
Upon closer inspection, I noticed that the moth was covered in stunning eye spots on its main wings. These eye spots serve as a natural defense mechanism against predators, as they create the illusion of a much larger and more intimidating creature.
Luna Moths are known for their short lifespan, lasting only about a week. During this time, they will spend most of their days in search of a mate before passing on their genes to the next generation. After mating, the female Luna Moth will lay her eggs on the leaves of deciduous trees, where they will hatch into caterpillars and feed on the leaves.
I was hand-holding a Canon EOS 7D Mark II with a Canon EF 100-400 mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II lens attached.
Camera Settings
- AV Mode
- Aperture: f6.3
- ISO: 800
- Shutter speed: 1/2000 sec.
- Focal Length: 400 mm
Here is a photo of a Luna Moth with both hind wings. I took this photo back on May 2015. Its main wing is a little tattered. I took this on the same tree as the one above.
I see a lot of Eastern Tent Caterpillars here in the Ouachita Mountains of Arkansas.