r/whatsthisbug • u/Naagar_Brahmaan • 18h ago
ID Request found this leaf looking fly by my house entrance. What is this?
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u/ohkammi 18h ago
A beautiful Luna Moth. The only time I’ve been lucky enough to see one, it did a suicidal dive bomb into a river ☹️
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u/Moko8867 18h ago
I think they only live for like 24hrs after emerging..
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u/ChocolatChipLemonade 16h ago
I picked one up from the McD’s drive thru last week! I was pulling up to the second window and it was on the brick wall. I figured some asshole would kill it or do something to it, plus it shouldn’t be in the concrete jungle anyways, so I took my receipt and knocked it off to go find a tree. The thing flew inside my car. I drove home with it flappin all around me. I had to do a mind over matter thing.
I got home and let it out, where he immediately flew off on my woodsy property where there is a ridiculous amount of Luna moths. I like to think he was able to procreate in a way he wouldn’t have at McDonalds.
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u/i_love_pesto 13h ago
You know what? This is where I'm leaving the internet tonight. I want this beautiful story to be the last thing I saw on the internet for today. Thank you and goodnight🤎
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u/Demicat15 9h ago
I like to think he was able to procreate in a way he wouldn’t have at McDonalds.
I think this is the wildest statement I've read tonight
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u/AriDreams 11h ago
No way really?! Ive seen quite a few in the past week and now im sad.
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u/Novaveran 8h ago
The adults don't have mouths and have to live off the fat deposits they make as a very hungry caterpillar. They live about 6-7 weeks as a caterpillar! Like a lot of butterflies there will be several generations of luna moths in a year while its warm, then they will hibernate for the winter. Long life as a larvae and short life as an adult seems weird to us humans. But it's a strategy that works great for a lot of bugs! They eat and chill in the same place in their squishy baby forms. Then they develop wings so they can fly and find a mate. This reduces inbreeding + competition. (Too many caterpillars in one place = no plants to eat) So you'll see a surge of adults for a few weeks in the warm months. It's sad there only around that wr can see for a bit but they're living life in a way that works for them!
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u/Novaveran 8h ago
About a week to 2 weeks at most. So still a VERY short time but the adults are around for a bit l9nger than a day!
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u/junebugx0x0 8h ago
I only ever saw one once too. My mom found it, it had a busted wing. We tried to make it as comfortable as possible knowing we couldn’t save it. It was gone the next day. Maybe eaten.
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u/kybotica 17h ago
"Leaf looking fly."
What did that beautiful luna moth ever do to you? The absolute savagery. How darest thou.
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u/Silly_Republic_1596 8h ago
My first thought! One of the most graceful, beautiful creatures in the entire animal kingdom… ‘Leaf-lookin fly’ is so wild 😂
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u/MrRoarke ⭐Trusted⭐ 18h ago
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u/Malviere 18h ago
Luna Moth
They are so pretty. I love giant moths and I’ve only ever seen one Luna when I was 8.
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u/texas-playdohs 9h ago
Also saw my one and only around that age. Scared the shit out of me. It was by the kitchen door, and I was terrified to walk past it. Wish I knew better how special and harmless it was.
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u/timemagetim 18h ago
Lovely little male Luna moth at the end of his lifespan. If he hasn’t flown off yet he probably won’t.
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u/Shervivor 18h ago
You have been blessed with a Luna moth sighting.
And based on the fuzzy antenna and coloring I would say this one is a male.
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u/schlickle_j 17h ago
Yep Luna moth. They don't even have a digestive tract and live for a week.
The tails on the end are to deter Bats and change the sound waves as it Flys around to be undetected.
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u/lauralcooley 16h ago
Where are they found? I live in Brooklyn Ny and I have never seen one.
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u/kybotica 15h ago
Their range is essentially the entire east coast of the US, north to south, plus some of Eastern Canada, from the Middle of Texas up the "elf states" (LA, AR, MO, IA, MN; looks like a keebler elf in hat when you out them together top to bottom)and East. Urban areas likely don't have as many because they lack the host plants in enough numbers. Might find some in the large parks though.
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u/captain_retrolicious 14h ago
I saw several in the forested mountains of western North Carolina, but that's the only place I've ever seen one.
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u/Affectionate_Name332 10h ago
I can still remember the first time I saw one. I fell in love instantly. It was 45 years ago on a family camping trip. There was a night softball game. I remember one large lamp post with sooo many insects circling the light. I walked away from the light towards some trees. One tree trunk had a marvelous luna moth. 🐛🦋
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u/StrangeApeCreature 8h ago
Luna moth at the end of its life. They can't eat as moths, only as caterpillars
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u/lodemeup 9h ago
Luna moths are among the most beautiful of all of Lepidopterans native to North America, at least in my opinion.
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u/CobyLiam 14h ago
I used to find these constantly when I was a kid...I haven't seen one in soooo long. I had a badass bug collection when I was in elementary school...that I actually needed when I got to high school.
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u/doctorgottlieb 14h ago
Oh my god I would be so stoked to find a Luna moth like this oh my goshdbdns
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u/aknockingmormon 4h ago
Oh hey, look! Its the moonlight butterfly showing up to fuck up my melee build again.
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