Outside susquehannawildlife.net headquarters this morning, we were delighted to find this nocturnal Luna Moth (Actias luna), one of the “giant silkworm moths”, clinging to the side of one of our bee houses. During hours of darkness, this male is on a mission of radar love, his feather-like antennae used to detect pheromones produced by ready-to-mate females. Host plants for larval Luna Moths include deciduous trees such as willows, beeches, hickories, cherries, alders, and hazelnuts. It just so happens that we’ve been growing several American Hazelnuts (Corylus americana) in the garden for the past two years. We’re hoping they’ll help attract a mate for this colossal beauty.
