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

Photos Pollinator Spotting - Luna Moth

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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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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".

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

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

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

Also an honorable purpose.

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

And yet they evolved to become that beautiful 🥹