Types of large green moths. They can grow to have a wingspan of up to four inches placing them squarely in the large moth category. Displaying red flashes from marks on their underwings if they feel threatened. The feathery antenna definitively identifies them as moths. Luna caterpillars from the saturniidae family of insects is in the group of large silk moths.
Automeris io is a colorful moth species found in most parts of north america. A broad winged green moth with dark blotches and wavy white lines across the wings. Most moths are disliked by people because of their gloomy and dull coloring. The caterpillars begin as red larvae but then turn bright green with many spines.
You might be most familiar with them through lunesta a sleeping aid brand that use them in their tv commercials. The genus hemaris in the sphinx moths family consists of four native north american species that go by the name hummingbird moth. Typically it has a wingspan of roughly 114 mm 45 in but can exceed 178 mm 70 in making it one of the larger moths in north america. There are over 160000 recorded species of moths across the globe with around 11000 of these being found in the united states and around 2500 being found in the united kingdom.
Green wings and long tails might make it easy to confuse luna moths actias luna with swallowtail butterflies. Luna moth can be found in eastern texas central florida eastern north dakota and nova scotia west to saskatchewan. Large and fabulously patterned their heavy bodies make them slow to take off and they will sit on your hand looking wonderfully glamorous. The elephant hawk moth is a vibrant combination of lime green and sugar pink.
This is a type of moth with lime green colored wings and a white body and is also often referred to as the american moon moth. The luna moth caterpillar actias luna is a large species of caterpillar that has a spiky pale green body. It has lime green colored wings and a white body. The larvae caterpillars are also green.
These spines release a painful venom when touched even slightly. The luna moth actias luna is a nearctic moth in the family saturniidae subfamily saturniinae a group commonly known as giant silk moths. Poplar hawk moths have sculpted blush grey wings. Rather than a smooth body like many green varieties the luna caterpillar segments are ridges.
The snowberry clearwing hemaris diffinis for example a common visitor to gardens across the country often gets typed as the typical hummingbird moth. Typically the pain is immediate followed by itching. Common across the uk in most habitats including parks and gardens. Luna moths are mostly active during the evening hours and can be common sights in deciduous wooded areas east of the rocky mountains.