Beautiful…But Freaky…This Insect Lives Only to Breed

This, Woodstock Early Birds, is a LUNA MOTH, a giant silkworm, a lepidoptera, a lovely “freak” of nature. It snacks,  as a caterpillar only, on sumac bushes round these parts and then turns into this lovely HUGE moth, living only a week or so, without feeding, females exuding pheromones with the sole primordial intent of attracting males. Mating and done. If you see one, it will stay still while you observe it, as it only flies around at night. Do not be alarmed by this creature, although some of us find them viscerally scary. Pop culture internalization of movies featuring Hannibal Lector surely fueling some of this concern.  Enjoy the LUNA?

We thank Woodstock Early Birds, Cathy, Susan and Bobby for these photos!