Luna Moths

See for yourself one of the most amazing masters of change in the insect kingdom—the luna moth! Hatching from a tiny egg, the luna moth begins its life as a caterpillar just 0.11 inch (3 millimeters) long. An eating machine, the caterpillar grows and sheds its skin—or molts—four times. Then it stitches a silk cocoon among the fallen leaves and becomes a pupa. Inside the pupa, the insect’s body dissolves and reforms. After about six months, the insect emerges as a beautiful luna moth with a wingspan of up to 5 inches (127 millimeters)—more than 40 times its original size! In this exciting…