Insects of Iowa
Insect Orders
Information Page
Life Cycle Page
Moths of Iowa
Saturniidae
Luna Moth
Pictures 1-3 show the caterpillar in various stages of growth. The caterpillers go through 4-5 instars as they grow. They shed their skins each time to grow bigger. Pictures 4-8 show a freshly emerged moth pumping fluid into the wings to make them larger and then allowing them to harden prior to flight. The Luna female attracts a male, mates, lays eggs on the host plant (Walnut trees) and then dies after a couple weeks. The adults do not feed.