# What Do Luna Moths Eat?

> What luna moths eat: Caterpillars eat leaves; adults do not feed, foraging style, and seasonal shifts in Deciduous forests of eastern North America.

- **Species:** Luna Moth (*Actias luna*)
- **Conservation status:** Least Concern
- **Diet:** Caterpillars eat leaves; adults do not feed
- **Habitat:** Deciduous forests of eastern North America
- **Lifespan:** Adults about 1 week; full cycle a few months
- **Canonical HTML:** https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/luna-moth/what-do-luna-moth-eat/
- **Parent profile:** https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/luna-moth/
- **Last reviewed:** 2026-07-16

## Quick answer

The luna moth is a large, pale-green silk moth of eastern North America, with long, sweeping tails on its hindwings and a wingspan up to about 11 cm (4.5 in). Adults do not feed and live only about a week, focusing entirely on mating, while the caterpillars feed heavily on tree leaves. The trailing tails are thought to confuse the echolocation of hunting bats.

## Who should skip this page

Skip this if you need a captive feeding plan from a veterinarian. This page is wild diet, not a pet-care sheet.

## Appearance

The luna moth is among the most striking moths in North America, with broad, pale-green wings, eyespots, and long, twisting tails trailing from the hindwings. Its body is white and furry, and the antennae of males are large and feathery for detecting females. Its size and soft color make it unmistakable when it appears at lights on summer nights.

## Help protect the Luna Moth

Even familiar animals lose ground as wild habitat keeps shrinking worldwide.

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Source: Global Animal Guide (https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/luna-moth/what-do-luna-moth-eat/). Licensed CC BY-NC 4.0 — free for non-commercial reuse with attribution.