What's that wriggling about? That’s a Luna moth pupae, brought in by a longtime friend of the Nature Center. Like most creatures, luna moths developed adaptations to improve their chances of survival. Bats are the luna moth’s primary predators, but they are also preyed upon by owls, birds, and parasitic flies. Similar to other moths, luna moths have eye spots on their wings that help frighten predators by making them appear larger. Their hindwings also have long tails, which are thought to confu

The luna moth (Actias luna), one of North America's most striking silk moths, faces a unique challenge when it reaches adulthood: escaping the tough silk cocoon it spun as a caterpillar.Unlike many insects that chew or dissolve their way out, adult luna moths have vestigial mouthparts and cannot feed (or bite) at all. Instead, they rely on a clever mechanical adaptation.The newly formed adult moth first secretes a protein-digesting enzyme called cocoonase from its mouth area. This chemical softe

How Do Moths Reproduce? The Complete Moth Lifecycle Explained