Three and a half weeks until the first day of summer (and the next full moon) my mind turns toward subtler seasonal symbols like the fortuitous sighting of a Luna Moth (Actias luna).
I collect these encounters like treasure, return to them when life warrants (ie. It’s Not a Bug, It’s a Feature), and try to stay aware and ready for my next opportunity to witness a luna moth.
The luna moth (Actias luna) can be found throughout much of the eastern half of the U.S. It is one of our larger native moths with a wingspan of approximately 4 – 4.5 inches, or about as wide as one and a half post-it notes from the widest point on one wing to the widest point of the other wing. Luna moths are a beautiful pale green with eyespots that are visible when the wings are stretched out. However, perhaps the most distinctive feature of a luna moth is the long “tail” that extends off of each hindwing.
Adult luna moths only live for about a week. During that week, their sole purpose is to reproduce. They don’t even eat as adults and instead live off of the fat reserves that they stored as caterpillars. Adult females will fly to the top of a tree and sit on a leaf while giving off pheromones that are designed to attract a mate. The adult male luna moths fly around using their antennae to “smell” for the pheromones. Once a male detects the pheromone, it follows the pheromone trail until it finds the female. (Source: Backyard Ecology)
You just never know when a luna moth might opt to live out its insatiably hungry, all-too-brief days in our presence. Best stay alert!
The luna moth’s delicate green wings lead-edged in aubergine (and their whimsically twisted tails) pair peculiarly with a false but slightly fierce gaze. A fairy moth with a ghostly gaze. Such beautiful brevity, bittersweet like springtime. Insatiable. Evanescent.
Actias Luna Haiku
Milky minted lime
and spy-eyed concupiscence,
a beauty too brief.
Until we meet again, lyric longing…
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