Butterflies, Moths, Dragonflies & Damselflies of Dayton, Ohio

Luna Moth on a Bloodroot leaf. This photo and the one below were taken in North Carolina. (These two photos and my Aurora Damsel photos are the only images on my website not from Ohio).

Luna Moths have soft, fuzzy white bodies with pink spots. Like most silkmoths, they do not feed as adults and live for only a few days after emerging from their cocoons. The sole purpose of the adults is to reproduce. 

Pair of Luna Moths at Germantown MetroPark, Montgomery County, Ohio (photographed on April 24, 2016). Mated pairs sometimes remain together until the next morning. 

Another view of the Luna Moths at Germantown, from a different angle. Luna Moths have several broods in our area. The first brood usually emerges in late April or May, and I have seen Lunas as late as August.

Luna Moth: in my opinion, the most beautiful creature in nature. This individual was photographed at Hocking Hills (eastern Ohio). This species has never graced my  home moth lights, but I have found Lunas while hiking at Germantown MetroPark and Sugarcreek Reserve.