What type of insect do you think this is?
Where does it live?
What does it feed on?
Answers:
What type of insect do you think this is?
This is a preserved specimen of a Luna moth, or Actias luna, also known as the American Moon moth. Typically these moths have a wingspan averaging about 4.5 inches, but they have been known to grow up to 7 inches or more!
Where does it live? What does it feed on?
The Luna moth is most commonly found across eastern North America, from the Great Plains to the Atlantic Ocean. Interestingly, adult Luna moths do not eat, since they gather all their nutrients in their larval stage. As a result, adults only live for about a week. In their larval stage, they feed on white birch, hickory, sweet gum, persimmon, walnut, and sumac leaves.
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