Actias luna – A Thousand Acres of Silphiums

2026 Caterpillar Season – Luna Moth

2026 Caterpillar Season, Caterpillars of Tyson Research Center, insects, Lepidoptera, macro, wildlife, wildlife photography

Luna Moth
Actias luna (Linnaeus, 1758), fam. Saturniidae, P-no. 890072
Host plants: Highly polyphagous. The recorded hosts are plants in 18 families, utilizing mostly woody species.
Date found(s): August 26, September 3, 2026
Location(s) found: Tyson Research Center, St. Louis County, MO; Ste Genevieve County, MO
Notes: Perhaps the most beautiful and certainly among the most well-known adult moths in Missouri, the luna caterpillars are no ugly ducklings either. These caterpillars are voracious eaters, usually staying on their hatch tree until it is time to pupate. Like all our saturniids, the adult luna lacks mouth parts and does not eat. Their time as adults is short, living 7-10 days.

2026 Caterpillar Season – Luna Moth

2026 Caterpillar Season, insects, Lepidoptera, macro, WGNSS Field Trips, wildlife, wildlife photography

Luna Moth
Actias luna (Linnaeus, 1758) P-no. 890072
Host plant: Found on pawpaw (Asimina triloba)
Date found: 28 June, 2026
Location found: Pinewoods Lake Recreation Area, Carter County, MO
Notes: While the adult luna moth does not feed at all, the larvae are highly polyphagous. The recorded hosts are plants in 18 families, utilizing mostly woody species.

A tale of two Saturniids

macro, wildlife photography

I typically don’t have very much luck finding caterpillars of the giant silk moths from the Saturnidae family. This past season was a little more successful. I found three polyphemus moth (Antheraea polyphemus) caterpillars and Sarah found the above luna moth caterpillar during our birthday hunting trip in mid-September. Larvae of these two species look very similar, but there are a few easy characteristics than can be used to distinguish between the two.