What Are Some Plants That Luna Moths Are Attracted To?

Winged Sumac

• The winged sumac (Rhus copallina) is a woody shrub native to the eastern United States and Canada. This shrub grows between 6 to 20 feet. Luna caterpillars feed on the winged shrub's leaves, which appear like wings on the shrub's stems. During the fall, this deciduous shrub's leaves turn from green to red; the winged sumac's leaves are green during the spring and summer. Winged sumacs produce red berries.

Sweetgum

• One of the tallest deciduous trees in the United States is sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua). Mature sweetgums grow between 80 to 100 feet tall. During their caterpillar stage, luna moths feed on the leaves of sweetgum trees. The fruit of sweetgum trees resemble round sphere with needle-like points. These fruit fall from the trees to disperse seeds. Sweetgum fruit is commonly known as a “gumball.” The flowers of sweetgum trees are greenish and grow in clusters.

Persimmon

• Native throughout the eastern half of the United States, persimmon trees produce fruit, which are edible after the fruit experiences its first frost in the winter. Luna moths lay eggs on persimmon tree leaves, and the leaves are food during the moth's caterpillar stage. Persimmons reach heights of 50 feet and have a spread of 25 to 30 feet. These trees experience slow growth and, as a result, have tough bark. Persimmon tree bark is commonly used for making flooring and veneers.

Pignut Hickory

• The leaves of pignut hickory trees (Carya glabra) are fodder for luna moth caterpillars, says the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. This tree reaches heights of 50 to 65 feet and is native to most of the United States – except for the Great Plains region. Pignut hickories produce green, bitter fruits. The fruits are edible to wildlife but not humans. The tree is deciduous and has a 25- to 30-foot spread that forms a canopy.

Walnut

• A walnut tree is a deciduous plant and grows between 40 to 80 feet tall. The spread of a walnut tree has a 40- to 50-foot spread, so they require at least 60 feet of space, according to the University of California-Davis Master Gardener Program. During their caterpillar stage, luna moths feed on walnut tree leaves. Walnut trees produce edible fruit, known as “walnuts.” The walnuts are fully mature in the fall and usually fall off the tree's branches on their own.