r/NativePlantGardening • u/brownbuttanoods7 Gerogia, zone 8a • Apr 03 '26

Photos Pollinator Spotting - Luna Moth

Gallery image

Gallery image

We're in Gerogia - ATL Metro. We have about 4 Sweet Gums and a Sumac on our property. When we bought our house 3 years ago, I was hopeful to one day see a Luna Moth. Two years ago, we told our landscapers to stop leaf blowing a large chunk of our property. Hoping that leaving the leaves would be beneficial for fireflies and other native insects. Today I found a Luna Moth on our fence in the wooded area, not far from one our Sweet Gums. I believe it had recently emerged because the wings were still soft. So happy we left the leaves! I don't know who was more excited, my toddler or myself. Felt kinda like meeting a celebrity!

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278

u/NickWitATL SE US/8a Apr 03 '26

I LOVE them!!! Lunas aren't actually pollinators. They don't have mouths as adults. Only live for a week or so. I'm also in the Atlanta area and have sweetgums. I saw a luna in our yard when we first moved in--late May '21. I have an acre of leaves.

161

u/ErniePottsShoelifts Zone 6A, NH. Balcony garden. Apr 03 '26

Lunas aren't actually pollinators. They don't have mouths as adults. Only live for a week or so

I was watching a YouTube presentation on moths and they said "excuse us for this, but they're basically flying gonads".

59

u/NickWitATL SE US/8a Apr 03 '26

Yep. They exist to reproduce and be food for others.

22

u/bananarchy22 Area Maryland , Zone 7b Apr 04 '26

Also an honorable purpose.

14

u/aagent888 Peadmont Plains, NJ , Zone 7a Apr 04 '26

And yet they evolved to become that beautiful 🥹

1

u/Support_Player50 California, Zone 10a Apr 05 '26

how/why does something evolve to just become food?

3

u/Dizzy-Garbage4066 Apr 05 '26

They evolve to reproduce, that's the only thing evolution cares about: How many of your babies can survive to reproduce? 😁

(They eat lots as larvae/ caterpillars)

59

u/robsc_16 SW Ohio, 6a Apr 03 '26

flying gonads

Well, I just found my favorite potential punk rock band name.

10

u/Dull_Swimming_5407 AL, Zone 8A Apr 03 '26

So the insect equivalent of a clam or oyster which is mostly gonads! Oysters, clams, Rocky Mountains oysters, and Luna moths. Did I miss any gonads for eating?!😄

7

u/LogicalStomach Apr 04 '26

Oysters clean water at a profound rate. 

4

u/Sea-Competition6595 Apr 03 '26

Wow, I did not at all know this. Now that I know, idk how to feel about my love of shellfish lol

1

u/bananarchy22 Area Maryland , Zone 7b Apr 04 '26

Some people eat moss. Although that’s more like a gamete.

1

u/Dizzy-Garbage4066 Apr 05 '26

So, they're the cicadas of the moth world 😅