what job does a luna moth have? - Wildlife Gardeners

milkweed · 09-02-2009, 08:30 PM

Yesterday I was watching a documentary about Indiana's Natural Heritage. They had a bit about luna moths. Luna caterpillars eject their digestive systems before cocooning. Luna moths have no mouth parts and do not feed. They mate, then lay eggs and die.

This may seem like a strange question but...
If luna moths don't help pollinate then what beneficial roll do they playin nature, either as moths or caterpillars?

Quietman · 09-02-2009, 08:36 PM

I'm pretty sure they are in the food chain. Maybe near the top of the menu for predators? Owls eat moths (in addition to many other things)

Quiet

MrILoveTheAnts · 09-02-2009, 08:44 PM

Ants in the genus Trachymyrmex form small colonies and harvest fungus. One species is unusually wide spread over North America, where as all other fungus growing species are restricted to states just above Mexico. Part of their success is the inclusion of Caterpillar Frass to use as compost for the fungus gardens. Any caterpillar can fill this roll but that of a giant silk moth must be a gold mine. Though uncommon, they range from southern NJ, OH, IL, and on down to northern CA.

swamp thing · 09-02-2009, 10:48 PM

Lots of insect species breed as adults and that's about it. Some live for many years but only a short time as adults.

MrILoveTheAnts · 09-02-2009, 10:57 PM

Cicada's have a similar life style. They take something like 15 to 17 years to develop underground. The larval stage feeds on tree roots and the adult form is there only to mate and reproduce. I don't think they eat at all.

THBFarm · 10-23-2009, 12:37 PM

I've wondered the same thing myself. I think of them as the creators of caterpillars who are a valuable foodstuff for birds.
MrAnts, thanks for the info about ants using cat frass to harvest fungus. That's a new one to me. I am continually learning about all the things that those resourceful ants do!

milkweed · 10-23-2009, 06:30 PM

Quote:

I think of them as the creators of caterpillars who are a valuable foodstuff for birds.

LOL What a job. Baby factories!

MrILoveTheAnts · 10-23-2009, 06:38 PM

They eat leaves pretty well and most of those taste awful.

suunto · 10-24-2009, 05:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by milkweed

If luna moths don't help pollinate then what beneficial role do they play in nature, either as moths or caterpillars?

IMHO, there really us no good answer (from a human standpoint, anyway) to philosophical questions of this nature

. Why not just enjoy their beauty? Just as an aside, I have noted that bats often snack on moths in this family -lots of calories in those plump bodies!

Hedgerowe · 10-24-2009, 06:03 AM

Suunto, I love your comments. They are so drool--I mean droll! I keep meaning to tell you that I also love your signature line, by the way. I have found that sentiment to be often true.

09-02-2009, 08:30 PM	#1
milkweed Heron Join Date: May 2009 Location: Indiana	what job does a luna moth have? Yesterday I was watching a documentary about Indiana's Natural Heritage. They had a bit about luna moths. Luna caterpillars eject their digestive systems before cocooning. Luna moths have no mouth parts and do not feed. They mate, then lay eggs and die. This may seem like a strange question but... If luna moths don't help pollinate then what beneficial roll do they playin nature, either as moths or caterpillars? __________________ We do not inherit the land from our fathers, we borrow it from our children.

09-02-2009, 08:36 PM	#2
Quietman Salamander Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Raymond, NH - USA	I'm pretty sure they are in the food chain. Maybe near the top of the menu for predators? Owls eat moths (in addition to many other things) Quiet __________________ "If you have integrity, nothing else matters. If you don't have integrity, nothing else matters." -- Alan K. Simpson

09-02-2009, 08:44 PM	#3
MrILoveTheAnts 1st Place Winner Winner Butterfly/Moth Contest & Official Ant Man Join Date: May 2009 Location: New Jersey	Ants in the genus Trachymyrmex form small colonies and harvest fungus. One species is unusually wide spread over North America, where as all other fungus growing species are restricted to states just above Mexico. Part of their success is the inclusion of Caterpillar Frass to use as compost for the fungus gardens. Any caterpillar can fill this roll but that of a giant silk moth must be a gold mine. Though uncommon, they range from southern NJ, OH, IL, and on down to northern CA. __________________ MrILoveTheAnt's Blog, Ant Chat, & Native Plants for Honeybees

09-02-2009, 10:57 PM	#5
MrILoveTheAnts 1st Place Winner Winner Butterfly/Moth Contest & Official Ant Man Join Date: May 2009 Location: New Jersey	Cicada's have a similar life style. They take something like 15 to 17 years to develop underground. The larval stage feeds on tree roots and the adult form is there only to mate and reproduce. I don't think they eat at all. __________________ MrILoveTheAnt's Blog, Ant Chat, & Native Plants for Honeybees

10-23-2009, 06:38 PM	#8
MrILoveTheAnts 1st Place Winner Winner Butterfly/Moth Contest & Official Ant Man Join Date: May 2009 Location: New Jersey	They eat leaves pretty well and most of those taste awful. __________________ MrILoveTheAnt's Blog, Ant Chat, & Native Plants for Honeybees

09-02-2009, 10:48 PM	#4
swamp thing Slapping, Swearing, Itching, Scratching Mosquito Bait Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: pennsylvania,usa	Lots of insect species breed as adults and that's about it. Some live for many years but only a short time as adults.

10-23-2009, 12:37 PM	#6
THBFarm Lungwort Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: central Massachusetts	I've wondered the same thing myself. I think of them as the creators of caterpillars who are a valuable foodstuff for birds. MrAnts, thanks for the info about ants using cat frass to harvest fungus. That's a new one to me. I am continually learning about all the things that those resourceful ants do!

10-24-2009, 06:03 AM	#10
Hedgerowe Pope Join Date: May 2009 Location: Virginia	Suunto, I love your comments. They are so drool--I mean droll! I keep meaning to tell you that I also love your signature line, by the way. I have found that sentiment to be often true.

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