Actias selene
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2008-05-26T05:12:01Z
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robot Modifying: [[de:Actias selene]]
{{Taxobox
| name = Indian Moon Moth
| image= Actias selene adult male sjh.jpg
| image_width = 250px
| image_caption = ''Actias selene'', adult male
| regnum = [[Animal]]ia
| phylum = [[Arthropod]]a
| classis = [[Insect]]a
| ordo = [[Lepidoptera]]
| familia = [[Saturniidae]]
| genus = ''[[Actias]]''
| species = '''''A. selene'''''
| binomial = ''Actias selene''
| binomial_authority = ([[Jacob Hübner|Hübner]], [[1807]])
}}
The '''Indian Moon Moth''' or '''Indian Luna Moth''' (''Actias selene'') is a species of moth. This species is popular among amateur entomologists and is often reared from eggs or cocoons that are available from commercial sources.
===Range===
This moth is quite widespread, found from [[India]] to [[Japan]] and then south into [[Nepal]], [[Ceylon]], [[Borneo]], and other islands in eastern [[Asia]]. Many subspecies live in [[Pakistan]], [[Afghanistan]], the [[Philippines]], [[Russia]], [[China]], [[Java]], [[Sri Lanka]], [[Sumatra]] and [[Borneo]].
==Adult==
Male: Head, thorax, and abdomen white; palpi pink, prothorax with a dark pink band; legs pink. Fore wing very pale green, white at base; a dark pink costal fascia, darkest along subcostal vein: an outwardly-oblique pale yellow antemedial line ; two inwardly-oblique slightly curved submarginal lines; a pale yellow marginal band; a dark red-brown lunule at end of cell, with a grey line on it, bounding inwardly a round ochreous spot with pinkish centre. Hind wing similar to the fore wing ; the central portion of the tail pinkish.
Female: The outer margin less excised and waved; the yellow markings less developed; the antemedial line of fore wing nearer the base., and that on hind wing absent; the tail less pink.<ref>Hampson, G. F. Fauna of British India. Moths. Volume 1</ref>
===Life Cycle===
Eggs are 2 mm, colored white with extensive black and brown mottling. Incubation lasts approximately 12 days and newly hatched larvae are red with a black abdominal saddle. Second instar larvae are all red with black heads. It is not until the third instar that larvae take on a green color. The developing larvae prefer humid conditions.
===Larva===
Larva apple-green; paired dorsal and lateral yellow spinous tubercles on each somite except the last; dorsal yellow hairs; lateral and ventral black hairs; the pad to anal claspers rufous.
===Pupa===
Cocoon pale brown and oval.
=== Images of Life Cycle ===
{{commons|Actias selene}}<br><br><br><br>
<gallery>
Image:Moonmoth eggs.jpg|Moon Moth Eggs
Image:MOON MOTH CATTE HATCHING.jpg|Hatching Caterpillars
Image:MMEMERGING CATT.jpg|Moon Moth Caterpillar emerging
Image:MOON MOTH NEWLY CATTER.jpg|Newly hatched cats
Image:MMNEWLY CATT.jpg|Newly Hatched Caterpillar
Image:Actias selene 1st instar sjh.JPG|First [[instar]] [[larva]]e reared on [[American Sweetgum]]
Image:Actias selene 2nd instar 3 sjh.JPG|Second instar larvae
Image:Actias selene 2nd 3rd instar sjh 2.JPG|Second instar larva with third instars in the background.
Image:Actias selene 2nd instar sjh.JPG|Second instar larva undergoing [[apolysis]]
Image:Actias selene 3rd instar sjh.JPG|Third instar larva
Image:Actias selene 3rd instar sjh 3.JPG|Third instar larvae with a second instar in the background
Image:Actias selene 4th instar ecdysis sjh.JPG|Fourth instar larva recently completing [[ecdysis]]
Image:Actias selene 4th instar sjh.JPG|Fourth instar larva
Image:Actias selene 5th instar 2 sjh.JPG|Fifth instar larva
Image:Actias selene 5th instar 3 sjh.JPG|Fifth instar larva
Image:Actias selene 5th instar head sjh.JPG|Fifth instar larva closeup to show head and mouthparts
Image:MMCAT DURING LAST MOLTING.jpg|Last Moult Stage
Image:Actias selene prepupa sjh.jpg|Cocoon cut away to show [[prepupa]] stage
Image:Luna_moth.jpg|Adult male from the [[Western Ghats]]
</gallery>
==Host Plants==
*''[[Sweetgum|Liquidambar]]'' (Sweetgum)
*''[[Rhododendron]]''
*''[[Prunus]]'' (including Cherry)
*''[[Malus]]'' (including Apple)
*''[[Coriaria]]''
*''[[Pieris (plant)|Pieris]]'' (Andromeda)
*''[[Hibiscus]]''
*''[[Willow|Salix]]'' (Willow)
*''[[Crataegus]]'' (Hawthorn)
==Trivia==
In [[Peter Jackson]]'s [[The Lord of the Rings film trilogy|''Lord of the Rings'' trilogy]], an Indian Moon Moth serves as a messenger between [[Gwaihir]] and [[Gandalf]].
==References==
<references/>
==External links==
http://www.butterflies.be
=== Videos ===
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_lsGZCliEMA Fourth instar eating]
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DnIUdtDeQYc Fifth instar eating] [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eAOtAZSNfKs Part 2] [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MqG96ismI1s Part 3]
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l_hknDo3oF0 Moth emerging from pupa] [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YMKulHJ8na8 Part 2] [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s3Q4awPXb1I Part 3]
[[Category:Actias]]
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