Luna Moth

The strikingly beautiful and large, it’s wingspan is an incredible 4.5 inches, Luna moth is a Nearctic moth in the family Saturniidae, subfamily Saturniinae, a group commonly known as giant silk moths. They inhabit the deciduous woodlands of United States, Southern Canada, and Northern Mexico.

It also has the distinction of being the first North American saturniid to be reported in insect literature. Described and named by the English apothecary James Petiver in 1700 as ‘Phalena plumata caudata’ which roughly translates to “brilliant, feather tail”.

The name was later changed in 1758 by Swedish botanist, zoologist, and physician Carl Linnaeus to Phalaena luna, then to Actias luna, with the Luna being derived from the Roman moon goddess and which is why it bares the name it has today.