I saw my first Luna Moth in a grocery store parking lot. It wasn't there when I went into the store, but when I came out, there it was, right next to my driver side door. When I spotted it (probably a male), I thought it was fake. It was huge and looked like it had painted branches on it. The detail was impeccable. The wingspan was about 4 inches. I touched it and to my amazement it was alive, gripping the scorching pavement. I gently scooped it up with a grocery flyer and put it in the cooler.
When I got home, I placed the moth in the lower branches of the maple tree. It flew up to higher branches. I felt happy that I rescued it. After Googling to identify it, I learned that they only live for a week after leaving the cocoon and are nocturnal -- only active at night; so what were the odds that I'd see one in broad daylight (at noon), and in a parking lot? It had probably already done the happy deed -- mate -- and may have been in the dying process. Oh, well. I tried. Better to die in the shade of a tree than in a hot parking lot.
I didn't take this picture, as I didn't have a camera with me. But just wow --- what beauty to behold so unexpectedly.
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Northern CA Redwood Moth. Lived there for years, and finally there it was, on my Mom's front door! Huge, and so beautiful.
Hathacat
Level 9
July 25, 2018
1
@VictoriaNotes First one! We just called anything big "Redwood", lol. Redwood spider...*shivers...actually, I think that is it, lol. Oh! These snails you would find there! You needed a hammer to break the shell it was so tough and the redwoods were the only place I ever saw them.
@VictoriaNotes Redwood cones are tiny...about a inch or so. I wonder what tree had the big ones? Now I have to go research big pinecones, lol! You know what used to be everywhere? Banana slugs! I hardly see them anymore. I don't really miss them, mind you. But I do worry about habitat going down like that.
@VictoriaNotes Sequoias are a different tree, so that would make sense. Redwoods are taller and thinner than sequoias. Sugar pine! Went to a cabin surrounded by them. The world smelled so sweet!
@VictoriaNotes Yeah! Kinda like a Shetland pony is a horse, and so is a Clydesdale , but yeah, lol. I am from coastal redwoods and was talking about those. Bet you were in Sequoia country. They don't live near each other too often Great to get cleared up. I didn't know too much about sequoias so that is neat to learn about. So do they have the big pinecones, or are they like Coastal redwoods? Or was it really the Sugar Pine? Now I am wondering if the second moth lives in the Sequoia area.....
Amazing I have not seen one here in over 50 years yet my father told me that at one time they were once common here. I don't know what made them disappear from this area.
HeathenFarmer
Level 8
July 25, 2018
1
I've seen maybe four or five in my life. they are quite the impressive critter.
hankster
Level 9
July 24, 2018
2
@VictoriaNotes most of the ones I've seen where around the porch light at night.
great save and lucky you, When I was a kid I was crawling under a bush and witness 4 cecropia moths come out of their cocoons
btroje
Level 9
July 24, 2018
2
@VictoriaNotes that's gorgeous!
@VictoriaNotes so awesome huh?
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