Sherry, the Polyphemus spins a white cocoon. Unlike the Luna, the Poly cocoon is quite dense. They spin a LOT of silk! Their cocoons look like tiny surgical casts. In fact, it is because of this, that the Poly's first cousin, native to China, Antheraea pernyi, was and may still be used for silk, just as the Bombyx is. The Cynthia moth is also used for silk. At one time, Cynthias were common in NE US, but have largely died off, chiefly due to habitat loss as well as parasitoids such as the tachinid fly. Susanlynne, one sureshot way to tell male from female Luna, at a glance, is color. The females are that characteristic green, while males are yellow-green. I could tell from my upstairs bedroom window, the Luna I saw, resting on a young hickory, was most definitely a male. No way could I see its body size or antennae. I hope this helps.

Hi thanks for your response. I live on a small farm on the outskirts of the city so its pretty dark here. Its really wooded around our property too so that makes it a little darker. We do keep our porch light on and I've seen a lot of moths and have various hawk moths show up often in the garden to nectar on the night blooming jasmines and brugmansia. It seems like the Luna would like it here due to all the Sweet Gums. I will have to try to find out when they would be active here.

Thanks for the great educational pics Sherry. Lunas are just so beautiful. I'm always amazed where you spot these. I've seen more of them on urban concrete buildings than in wooded areas. Maybe they like the heat from the concrete?

I found a beautiful green caterpillar in late August. I brought it inside and put in in a bowl to show my daughter. Within hours it made itself into a cocoon. I have never seen this kind of huge green caterpillar nor a cocoon before in all my 48 yrs. So, I thought we would have a butterfly soon. Nothing happened and in October I thought it was dead. We moved it and the cocoon started hopping around! We were so excited! I researched more and realized I must have a moth who was waiting winter out. I know nothing! I put it in the garage to keep the temp stable for it and then we had a very cold spell (Illinois) so I brought it back in thinking it would die. Well tonight it emerged! Its a big beautiful moth.. now what?? Its too cold here to let it go, right? Its supposed to be in 30's this week and colder at night. Does it need food? I think as I read here it will only live a few days? I put a cage around it so it does not take flight when Im not here, Im afraid the dogs will kill it. I dont know what kind of enclosure is proper, if it eats and what it eats, and if I am supposed to let it go? Its not flying yet its just sitting on the stick. But it has opened and closed the wings so I know its coming around.