Luna Moth

Earlier this evening I discovered a beautiful lime-green moth fluttering around the light in the garage.  It was obviously injured or just dying from having lived out its life span.

I caught it, placed it on a black pillow and took this picture.

"Luna" means "moon," and I think the name is perfect because I see them only at night.  The luna moth, Actias luna, of the order lepidoptera, as are all moths and butterflies. Lepidopthera is a Greek combining form that means scales and wings.

I think the luna is particularly stunning because of its size and color.  This one is close to four inches across its wings, and the lime-green color is most pleasing.

I have an outside light, not the ugly sulphur, orange that is seen on city streets, but a natural-looking light, near the garage, and each spring and summer I am rewarded with all kind of insects, and of course, bats catching them.  The light has created a microcosm of insects, little brown bats, toads, and who knows what else.  On warm spring and summer nights after dark I go outside to their little world and marvel at the abundance and variety of life.  There is always a surprise waiting for me.  I am never disappointed at what I find.

In some ways that little world is reminiscent of a battlefield.  After a night of activity with insects looking for mates and bats and toads looking for a meal, the next morning one can see the soldiers strewn over the ground - dead and dying moths and and a variety of other insects.  Such is nature's way.

Also under the light are three yucca plants, which bloom in the summer.  Their white blossoms grow on long shoots which grow up from the plant.  I understand the only pollinator is the yucca moth, which I have yet to see.  This summer I am going to find one on a blossom.  They may visit the plant at night.