luna moth
I was hiking the other day in Red River Gorge and I consumed part of my luck for the rest of the year because I saw a Luna Moth. They are not considered endangered as yet, however they are rare in some areas.
The adult lives only a week, which further reduces the chance of meeting one.
It was healthy and happy flying from tree to tree, I slowly approached it and, surprisingly, it paused giving me the chance to take a few shots. The few moments made me forget that I was drained, close to the end of a hike which mostly felt like swimming uphill in 100 degF water.
~~~
Luna Moth (Actias luna):
-Nearctic moth in the family Saturniidae, also known as giant silk moths
-Typical Wingspan 114 mm (4.5 in), can exceed 178 mm (7 in), one of the largest in North America
-One generation per year in Canada, two-three generation per year further south in US
-Elongated tail role is to scramble the echolocation detection used by bats, kind of like flares for military aircrafts :)
-Due to its beauty, the luna moth is not considered a pest, in fact, the use of pesticides, loss of habitat, and pollution are some of the reasons it is endangered. (the Spruce)
luna moth
I was hiking the other day in Red River Gorge and I consumed part of my luck for the rest of the year because I saw a Luna Moth. They are not considered endangered as yet, however they are rare in some areas.
The adult lives only a week, which further reduces the chance of meeting one.
It was healthy and happy flying from tree to tree, I slowly approached it and, surprisingly, it paused giving me the chance to take a few shots. The few moments made me forget that I was drained, close to the end of a hike which mostly felt like swimming uphill in 100 degF water.
~~~
Luna Moth (Actias luna):
-Nearctic moth in the family Saturniidae, also known as giant silk moths
-Typical Wingspan 114 mm (4.5 in), can exceed 178 mm (7 in), one of the largest in North America
-One generation per year in Canada, two-three generation per year further south in US
-Elongated tail role is to scramble the echolocation detection used by bats, kind of like flares for military aircrafts :)
-Due to its beauty, the luna moth is not considered a pest, in fact, the use of pesticides, loss of habitat, and pollution are some of the reasons it is endangered. (the Spruce)