Actias selene 4266278 214984247 2008-05-26T05:12:01Z SieBot 4005189 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]] [[de:Actias selene]] [[es:Actias selene]] [[fr:Actias selene]] [[nl:Maanvlinder]]