Luna moth vs Rosy maple moth
These two are easy to mix up. Here's how to tell a luna moth from a rosy maple moth, and whether either one bites or stings.
Luna moth
Actias luna
Rosy maple moth
Dryocampa rubicunda
≠The key differences
Much larger, pale green with long hindwing tails and not pink-yellow colored
⚖︎Side by side
| Luna moth | Rosy maple moth | |
|---|---|---|
| To humans | Non-toxic | Non-toxic |
| Size | Wingspan 90-114 mm (3.5-4.5 inches), body length 30-40 mm | 3-5 cm wingspan |
| Colours | Pale green, Creamy yellow, Brown (wing margins and body markings), Black (eyespot centers and markings) | Pink, Pale yellow, Green (larva) |
| Family | Saturniidae | Saturniidae |
| Habitat | Deciduous and mixed woodlands, suburban areas, parks and riparian zones where host trees are present | Deciduous forests, suburban and urban areas with maple trees, parks and roadside plantings |
| Range | Eastern North America: from Canada (southern Ontario, Quebec) south to Florida and west to Texas and parts of the Great Plains | Eastern North America from southern Canada through eastern United States; absent from the far western states |
| Active | Adults nocturnal; typically one to two broods per year depending on latitude (spring-summer to midsummer) | Adults mainly spring and summer (one to two generations per year depending on latitude); nocturnal, attracted to lights |
| Pest? | No | Yes |
🔍How to spot a luna moth
- Pale green wings with translucent eyespots on each wing
- Long, tapering tail streamers on the hindwings
- Powdery, slightly scalloped wing margins and creamy-yellow body
- Males have feathery (bipectinate) antennae; females have thinner, less feathery antennae
🔍How to spot a rosy maple moth
- Adults: small, rounded wings with vivid pink and pale yellow patterning; fuzzy, stout body
- Males smaller with feathery antennae; females have broader abdomens
- Caterpillars are greenish with lighter longitudinal stripes; found feeding on maple leaves
- No functional mouthparts in adults means you will not see feeding behavior
?Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a luna moth and a rosy maple moth?
Much larger, pale green with long hindwing tails and not pink-yellow colored
Is a luna moth or a rosy maple moth more dangerous?
Luna moth: Non-toxic. Rosy maple moth: Non-toxic. Adults do not bite or sting and are harmless to people. Adults do not bite or sting and are harmless to people.
Identification from photos is never certain: don't handle insects you can't identify, and get medical advice for bites, stings or allergic reactions.