the titan triggerfish , giant triggerfish or moustache triggerfish ( balistoides viridescens ) is a large species of triggerfish found in lagoons and at reefs to depths of 50 m ( 160 ft ) in most of the indo-pacific , though it is absent from hawaii .

with a length of up to 75 centimetres ( 30 in ) , it is the largest species of triggerfish in its range ( the stone triggerfish , pseudobalistes naufragium , from the east pacific is larger ) .

titan triggerfish

territorial females such as this titan triggerfish may guard their egg nests aggressively against all comers .
others , such as titan triggerfish , don’t seem treacherous until they’re pummeling your face with their teeth .
titan triggerfish are often solitary , and diurnal , meaning they are day - time fish , sleeping at night .
mr . reeftraveler was bitten by an aggressive titan triggerfish several years ago . here is his account of the story .
behaviour : titan triggerfish are often solitary , and diurnal , meaning they are day - time fish , sleeping at night .
a titan triggerfish feeds on something crunchy and delicious ( an echinoderm , crustracean or mollusk ) . image courtesy of flickriver . com .
the beautiful , robust and perhaps misunderstood titan triggerfish is often found in lagoons , outer reefs and nibbling at the ends of your fins ( especially if they are yellow ) . with a daring attitude unrivalled by any other , the titan triggerfish is our wildlife of the week :
most underwater photographers who have spent any time in the indo pacific have come across the very photogenic titan triggerfish . most of us have heard the stories of titan triggerfish attacking divers , ramming and biting , and sometimes requiring medical attention . there is some irony in the fact that most non - divers ' ( and unfortunately many divers as well ) have unwarranted fears about sharks or barracudas , but would more than likely approach a titan triggerfish without a second thought .
ouch ! that sounds painful . i recall seeing many titan triggers in the maldives ( south ari atoll ) . and like you said , it wasn’t the sharks that i was weary of , it was the titan triggerfish . those googly eyes strike fear in me !
due to this intrusive style of feeding , titan triggerfish often have smaller fish groupies hanging about picking off left overs from successful kills and other scraps dislodged by their thrashing about .
titan triggerfish ( balistoides viridescens ) attack . tulamben , bali , indonesia . nov / 2012 . shot with a samsung galaxy compact camera in custom underwater housing . blog post : urltoken
john , i can’t help but laugh at your story ! thanks for sharing . like you , i would much rather encounter a large shark than a ticked - off titan triggerfish .
* all species of triggerfish build nests , and most have cone - shaped territories ; but only two species - the titan and picasso triggerfish – defend their turf violently . not coincidentally , these are also the two species big enough to inflict actual damage .
being an oddly - shaped swimmer probably got this titan triggerfish made fun of on the playground . ( can ' t believe i just resisted a
school
pun . ) titan triggers are found throughout indo - pacific waters ; we saw them frequently in thailand and malaysia . image courtesy of aquaviews . com .
titan triggerfish is a large species of triggerfish with size up to 75cm . they are quite common in many indo - pacific areas and can live in depths as much as 50m . this fish is very territorial and especially during the reproduction season will protect its nest fiercely . you can tell you are risking an attack when the fish faces you with its dorsal spine erect . the bite of a titan triggerfish is not venomous , however its teeth are strong enough to send you for a stitch or two .
we are considering going to the maldives in february . i have heard that titan triggerfish can be very aggresive and can cause injuries to snorkellers when the fish are guarding their nests . are the fish easy to spot so you can avoid them or is it a case that they see you before you see them ? any tips on how to avoid injury from them ? are the titan triggerfish any worse at vilamendhoo compared to the other islands ?
titan triggerfish enjoy a wide distribution . inhabiting the coral reefs found in indo - pacific region comprising malaysia , thailand , indonesia , philippines , fiji and australia , as well as further afield in the maldives and the red sea .
wow , what a story ! there isn’t much that i fear underwater , but the titan trigger is one fish that makes me very cautious .
chakradar , i have seen the titan trigger fish in very shallow water also . this fish has a really cool appearance with its big eyes .
the threat posture includes the triggerfish facing the intruder while holding its first dorsal spine erect . it may also roll onto its side , allowing it a better look at the intruder it perceives as threatening its nest . the titan triggerfish will not always bite , but can swim at snorkellers and divers escorting them out of their territory .
ouch , fay ! what an experience . i would guess that a titan triggerfish was the culprit . i saw many of them in the maldives , but they didn’t bother me . i think it was not mating season at the time ?
sexually distinctive , the titan triggerfish will lay eggs that are fertilised externally . eggs are laid after some preparation of the nest . they create a depression in the sand of the chosen nesting area by fanning it with their caudal and dorsal fins .
titan triggerfish won ' t always resort to violence though , on occasion just swimming at the intruder , usually a diver or snorkeller , to provide them with an escort out of the nesting territory . however , should a colourful male titan happen to charge in your direction , it ' s best to do away with bravado and retreat , using your fins as a barrier between you and the fish .
titan triggerfish looking for food , picked up a large bit of corral . it was keeping an eye on me as i drifted closer , not sure if it was going to attack me or swim away . . . . ! interaction with humans the titan triggerfish is usually wary of divers and snorkelers , but during the reproduction season the female guards its nest , which is placed in a flat sandy area , vigorously against any intruders . although bites are not venomous , the strong teeth can inflict serious injury that may require medical attention
the titan triggerfish is well known to those who dive and snorkel the tropical waters of the pacific and indian oceans . it’s dramatic coloring , relatively large size ( 30 inches / 75 cm ) and cartoon - like eyes render it a very attractive subject for underwater photographers .
a titan triggerfish may well be able to defend its egg nest against a diver who inadvertently crosses into its protective zone . the diver is perceived as a large predator by the triggerfish , which is fearless and unrelenting in defense of its territory against the hapless diver . the triggerfish will swim to confront the diver at frenetic speed and perhaps bite a chunk out of him with its formidable teeth and strong jaws . however , while the triggerfish is on the offensive , opportunist egg - eaters such as wrasses , surgeonfish and butterflyfish will take advantage of the opening in defenses . they dart in to gorge upon the momentarily unprotected eggs in an unabashed frenzy , while the triggerfish deals with the intruding diver .
titan triggerfish spawn for about 4 days a month . the male will guard the nest and blow water over the eggs , ensuring a good supply of fresh water and oxygen . once the larvae hatch they will swim away , presumably into the protection afforded by the coral reef .
titan triggers are capable of delivering a nasty bite . the internet disagrees about whether the bite of the triggerfish is toxic . eating triggerfish flesh , like the flesh of many reef fish , sometimes causes ciguatera in humans , an illness produced by dinoflagellates in the fish ' s diets . whether the bite is ciguatoxic , however , is up for dispute . image courtesy of patmillerphoto . com .
its snout comprises about a third of its total length and its mouth is small with chisel - like teeth . titan triggerfish can accelerate for short distances at a fairly surprising speeds . they can generally be found in the indian ocean and central pacific at depths of around 10 to 30 metres .
the titan triggerfish is usually wary of divers and snorkelers , but during the reproduction season the female guards its nest , which is placed in a flat sandy area , vigorously against any intruders . although bites are not venomous , the strong teeth can inflict serious injury that may require medical attention .
not all titans will attack to protect their territory . often you will just be charged at aggressively and subsequently escorted out of the nesting zone by an agitated pit - bull with scales . and remember - you are not really being
attacked
, the titan is defending its territory , which you ( unknowingly ) invaded . don ' t blame the titan .
sometimes the fish will simply make a quick charge at the diver or snorkeler to “evict” them from the nesting territory . in other instances the fish may bite the diver or snorkeler as they are trying to flee . but most of the time , a titan triggerfish will ignore a diver or snorkeler .
the 40 species of triggerfish are scattered throughout the world’s seas and are familiar to divers and aquarium aficionados . largest of all is the stone triggerfish , which reaches up to 3 . 3 feet long , found in the eastern pacific from mexico to chile .
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despite triggerfish’s benign appearance , our certifying instructor , a normally insouciant dutchman named jesse , warned us about them vehemently before we got in the water . “ya , ya , they are dangerous , ” jesse told us with uncharacteristic gravity , stabbing at the fish id book with an index finger . he was pointing at one species of triggerfish in particular : the titan trigger ( balistoides viridescens if you speak latin ) , one of the largest types in the world .
for reasons that are not totally understood , titan triggerfish defend a funnel - shaped territory that widens as it rises * . this means that a diver’s natural reaction to danger – ascension – actually keeps them squarely in the trigger’s defense zone . an aggrieved triggerfish will keep chasing a frantically rising diver right to the surface , and presumably onto the boat if it could . the proper response to a triggerfish attack , then , is to swim horizontally and toward the bottom , with fins splayed out to ward the fish off . good luck remembering the proper response when you’re being targeted by an enraged yellow missile .
regularly spotted at the phuket islands such as racha yai and certainly one of the more antagonistic species of fish found in thai waters , titan triggerfish are not known as a diver ' s best friend . however , despite looking quite mean with their beady , swivelling eyes , they ' re quite easy to deal with , with the right approach .
the triggerfish search for mating partners and are known to do mating dances with the chosen one . both will vigorously protect the nesting area .
titan triggerfish , he explained , respond more aggressively to potential predators during mating season : which , being april at the time , it was . a nasty bite on the arm , a chomp on the rubber fin , and a couple of angry charges had sent several trespassing divers packing in recent days . ( in the future , i was to hear even more tales of triggerfish assaults , including a shattered mask and a cut on the forehead requiring three stitches . ) titan triggers are not small fish – some are nearly a meter long – and despite being oddly - shaped swimmers they can build up some pretty serious momentum . not only are they powerful , they’re highly intelligent , and capable of learning from previous experience – if a triggerfish discovers that it can ward off divers by sinking its teeth into arm - flesh , it’s liable to try that tactic again .
move away trying to escape is the most logical solution . triggerfish is mostly aggressive during breeding season ( april to may ) , but they are known to attack divers basically at any time of the year . similar to other animals , they attack when their territory is invaded by intruders including other unfriendly fish and divers . if you unintentionally come too close to their nest , triggerfish will repeatedly chase you to send you away . an important thing to know is that triggerfish makes its territory in cone - shaped area with the tip of the cone at the bottom . if you bump into a titan triggerfish , swim away in horizontal direction and toward the bottom . many divers try to escape by ascending . that is a mistake and the fish will most probably keep on chasing them . ignore them
the nest of the titan triggerfish is usually in a flat sandy area amongst the corals , an area that it will defend with a passion . mating season is a particularly aggressive time during which the trigger fish becomes even more territorial than usual . the teeth , designed for crunching through hard shells and coral , can inflict serious wounds on any would - be intruders .
the titan triggerfish ( scientific name - balistoides viridescens ) is the largest of the triggerfish family , ranging from approximately 15 - 30 inches . their bodies have patterns of green , yellow , purple and gray , with black fin tips . they are indeed very photogenic . titans feed on hard coral , crustaceans and invertebrates , using a set of specialized teeth that are clearly designed for these food sources . the titans have independently rotating eye sockets , but apparently have poor vision , possibly adding to their territorial nature .
very interesting , and well written . cool illustration of the diver’s reaction after realizing that he had disturbed the nest of the triggerfish ! ! !
while not always aggressive and on the attack , these highly territorial fish are no joke and are to be taken seriously . so when we received an email from underwater photographer david henshaw with images from a recent trigger attack in dumaguette , philippines , we decided that it was important to make sure that all of our readers understood more about the titan triggerfish , and their behavior .
why the aggressive behaviour , one might wonder ? hard to say . while some triggerfish are merely reacting to what they perceive as threats to their nesting grounds - definitely a lesson for divers to respect the habitat of these fish - others seem to do so for the fun of it . this much is clear - titan triggerfish are extremely territorial by nature . the male stands guard over its nest and will charge at any divers or fish that cross into its territory ( the zone in a full circle directly above its nest .
triggerfish are attractive animals and some species have become too popular for their own good . they are sought for the aquarium trade , which has prompted fishermen to gather even threatened species from the wild . researchers are working to raise triggerfish in captivity so that wild populations might more likely be left alone .
titan triggerfish feed on shellfish , urchins , crustaceans and coral . they are the workers of the reef , often being busy turning over rocks , stirring up the sand and biting off pieces of branching coral . this is why one often sees other smaller fish species around it who feed from the left overs . they have also been observed being agressive to other fish who enter their territory .
titan trigger and green moray eel 5 / 10 / 18 hi all great site . very informative < hi george > i just built a 450 gallon acrylic tank in my basement a month ago . my basement entrance has always kept me from anything larger then a 180 gallon but building it myself has fixed this issue . < great > current occupants are a green moray eel and a titan trigger . < one of the most aggressive trigger species and it gets too large ! > all the filter media sand and live rock was transferred from my 180 gallon into this new aquarium , the eel is new but the titan has been with me for about a year in the 180 i < caps > know the tank is to small for them once they get bigger , i am beginning the plans for a approximately 1000 gallon soon . the titan is about 9 inches and the green moray is 3 feet long . < keep an eye on the trigger as it is very mean with most tankmates > i believe i have a year or so before the 1000 is necessary . contemplating whether to go acrylic or plywood this time . my question is will the titan trigger get itâ€™s adult coloration in a home aquarium ? < it will if good nutritional and environmental conditions are provided > thanks george < your welcome wilberth gamboa > re : titan trigger and green moray eel 5 / 10 / 18 thank you very much < welcome . wilberth gamboa >
an orange - lined triggerfish - a common sighting at mabul and sipadan islands - with dorsal trigger fully engaged . courtesy of animal - world . com .
while they may enjoy taking a nibble out of divers , titan triggerfish tend to feed on hard corals , hard bodied benthic invertebrates ( shellfish , crustaceans and urchins ) and algae . they have distinctly disruptive feeding habits , darting about the coral - scape turning over rocks , biting off pieces of branching coral and stirring up sand by fanning its fins or squirting water through its mouth in search of food .
the larger , hardier angel species do well with triggerfish , as do many wrasse , surgeonfish , and damselfish species , as well as various moray eel species .
“you go into her territory…” he shook his head , and pounded a fist – presumably the female triggerfish – into his open palm – presumably a diver’s face .
a world - renowned reef fishes authority examines a variety of triggerfish that are suitable additions to a reef aquarium and the dangers they might pose to invertebrates and corals .
you have probably seen them before and not doubt been warned of the dangers they pose when protecting their young but how much do you know about trigger fish ? find out more about this common reef inhabitant and understand why it has torn off a few ears over the years and caused so many bruises - is it just misunderstood ? the titan triggerfish is a beautiful and robust reef creature just waiting to be discovered . . .
triggerfish are highly resilient animals , and for the most part they ship well and feed from the time they are collected to the time they make it into your home aquarium .
one of the most important criteria for keeping healthy triggerfish is to feed them often–at least three and preferably five small meals a day . in order to maintain their color and health , they should be fed a varied diet , complete with fresh or frozen clams , urchins , freeze - dried seaweed sheets , frozen or steamed spinach leaf , and freeze - dried krill soaked in selcon , or a comparable amino - acid . it is important to feed triggerfish several times a day , as they will rapidly lose weight if fed sparingly . although many aquarists like to hand - feed their triggerfish , you should be aware that triggerfish , especially larger specimens , can inflict painful injuries with their strong jaws and teeth . when first introduced to the aquarium some triggerfish species can be quite shy and may hide whenever you approach their tank . but it will not take long before they become bold aquarium inhabitants .
triggerfish are infamous for their nasty attitude and this behavior is especially evident around nests , where intruders , from other fish to human divers , are likely to be charged or bitten .
but when the trigger appeared i obeyed jesse and ducked . the triggerfish fluttered awkwardly in a vertical position , facing downward , pecking at the sand even as its body tugged surface - ward like a helium balloon . was it arranging its legendary nest ? hunting for crustaceans and echinoderms , its preferred food ? we were triggerfish neophytes , and there was no telling .
most of the time , the fish will ignore you . watch the fish from a distance for a minute or two and look for signs of agitation ( including an erect dorsal fin or charging or darting ) . if the fish seems ambivalent about your presence , go ahead and take photos . it’s best to stay at the same depth as the fish and as far away as possible ( while still close enough to get a good shot ) . the maldivian titan triggerfish shots that i took above were from a distance of about 4 feet . if you find yourself face to face with an aggressive titan triggerfish , remember to swim away horizontally at the same depth . this is the quickest way to exit its territory . and while swimming away , swim backwards while keeping your eyes on the fish and point your fins toward the fish . if it decides to bite , let it take a chunk from your fin instead of your leg .
the triggerfish belong to the family balistidae , which comprises 11 genera and approximately 40 species . the common name for the family is derived from the second dorsal , or “trigger , ” spine . when a triggerfish is threatened or resting , it will wedge itself into a hole and erect the first dorsal spine , which is then locked into place by the second dorsal spine . the only way to remove the fish when it is thus secured is by depressing the “trigger” spine , which causes the first dorsal to “unlock . ” however , this is often a difficult task , and attempting to do so may inadvertently injure a triggerfish . therefore the best way to transfer a triggerfish hiding in aquarium decor is to move the piece of rock or coral along with the fish .
it’s not a myth . however , that shouldn’t stop you from enjoying the water . the truth is that some male titan triggerfish in certain regions , and during certain seasons , have a tendency to charge at and / or bite divers and snorkelers who unknowingly enter their “territory” . the “territory” is generally a cone shaped area directly above their nest ( which is usually found in the sand close to and around coral ) . the widest part of the cone shaped area / territory is at the surface .
aside from their unique morphology , the next thing that will grab your attention about a triggerfish is the color . a few species are like living , breathing modern art paintings , and the picasso triggerfish in particular looks like something out of a children’s story , almost too fanciful to be real…but there it is ! a few species are just out and out garish , while some have a more subtle beauty .
that is how people often respond to the suggestion of adding one of those fish to their prized reef aquarium . while the majority of triggerfish are not suitable for most reefs , there is a small group of triggers that are exceptions to the normally held rule . in this article we will examine those triggerfish and look at the calculated risk of keeping some of the less suitable species with your invertebrates and corals .
at night or when threatened , the fish will wedge itself into a coral crevasse and erect its dorsal fin wedging itself in tight . the first spine is locked in place by the second spine and once that ' s in place , the fish is virtually immovable , resulting in the titan trigger fish not being considered an easy meal .
the best triggerfish for the reef aquarium belong to the genera melichthys , odonus , and xanthichthys . of those three genera , the latter is the very best for the reef aquarium—this includes the bluechin ( x . auromarginatus ) , the crosshatch ( x . mento ) , and the sargassum triggerfish ( x . ringens ) . the niger triggerfish ( odonus niger ) is more likely to hunt down motile invertebrates and may occasionally eat sessile invertebrates like sponges . the triggers in the genus melichthys—including the indian ( m . indicus ) , black ( m . niger ) , and pinktail triggerfish ( m . vidua ) ¬—feed heavily on floating algae and thus usually behave well with sessile invertebrates . while those species usually do well with corals , they may occasionally decide to dispatch a crustacean here or there , especially if the latter are introduced after the trigger is already in the tank .
titans are also known as the
black - tipped
or
moustached triggerfish
due to their appearance - they have dark markings above the mouth which look like a moustache - and black edgings on their fins .
triggerfish are simply too goofy to be intimidating . in identification guides , the world’s forty species of triggerfish fall into the ignominious category “oddly - shaped swimmers , ” which has to be a little embarrassing if you’re a fish . triggers are endowed with huge bulging heads , independently rotating eyes that protrude like marbles , and tiny undulating fins that appear far too small to propel their decidedly un - aerodynamic bodies . to their credit , triggerfish also have a cool eponymous adaptation : to protect against predators they can raise two dorsal spines , which when locked into place resemble a trigger . the spines are usually engaged at night . they still look weird during the day .
ordinarily you will encounter a solitary titan . like most reef fish , they are active during the day and will tuck themselves into the reef to sleep at night . understanding their nesting behavior and territorial nature is important for minimizing problematic encounters . while it is commonly cited that titans only attack while protecting their nests , this may not be true , as many incidents indicate aggression against territorial intruders even during non nesting seasons . titans nest in the sand adjacent to or within the corals . they will protect these nests with a rigor that is rarely seen from other species . the
danger zone
is a cone shaped area directly above the nest , all the way to the surface . so if you invade a titan ' s nesting zone , which more often than not you will do unintentionally , and find yourself with an aggressive male chomping at your fins and ramming you , ascending will not stop the titan from defending its turf . you must swim horizontally away from this zone . try to keep your eyes on the titan at all times , which is easier said than done , as these fish dart about in spurts of intense speed . keep your camera or fins between you and the fish if at all possible . better to have a hole or in fins than your body ! hardcore photographers would say to make sure you get the shot while evading attack , but we will be responsible and recommend focusing on not being harmed .
triggerfish quickly learn to solve simple problems . for example , it does not take long for most species to learn to recognize where the food comes from , and established specimens will “beg” at the water ' s surface every time their owner is in view . they will also spit water out of the aquarium . triggerfish in the wild often engage in a behavior called hydraulic jetting . this action gets its name from a triggerfish’s directing a jet of water out of its mouth into the sand to uncover buried prey . triggerfish also use hydraulic jetting to flip over protected prey items like spiny sea urchins . in the aquarium they learn to associate the surface of the water , not the tank bottom , with food . so instead of spitting water at the substrate they blow it at the water ' s surface . although interesting , this behavior can cause severe problems if your top is not totally covered and you have electrical outlets near the tank .
hey jk , thanks a lot for the kind words . i’m proud to take credit for the interesting content of the post , but the pictures are another story : i actually lifted them from various sites around the internet ( with due accreditation ) . i’ve tried to photograph triggers before , too , but it’s hard to get a titan trigger to hold still for you !
we hit the water that first day with some trigger - related anxiety . jesse had warned us that an especially large titan trigger made her home nearby , and that if we saw her we were to cower behind him like the pansies we were . screw that , i thought : i’m provoking an attack . the resultant scar would be a cool synecdoche for a great story .
triggerfish are laterally compressed , have relatively small mouths equipped with chisel - like teeth , heavily muscled jaws , and eyes that are positioned far back on the head . the powerful jaws and teeth are used to crush hard - shelled prey items , while having the eyes far from the mouth ensures that these vulnerable organs will not be damaged by sharp - spined prey items like sea urchins . triggerfish swim by sculling with the soft anal and dorsal fins ( this is known as the balistiform swimming mode ) , but if a sudden burst of speed is required they will use rapid sweeps of their tail . triggerfish occur in all tropical oceans , and most species associate with rocky outcroppings or coral reefs . there are several species that lead a pelagic lifestyle , roaming about the open ocean or living among sargassum algae rafts . but most species inhabit relatively shallow coastal waters . some triggerfish are sexually dimorphic and / or sexually dichromatic ; for example , in many species males are larger than females .
there is one simple rule every diver should know and respect - limit the interactions with the marine life ideally to zero contact . underwater animals and plants have been there for millions of years , while humans have found home on land . as cute as many of them might look , there are several good reasons why we should not touch or harass marine life . direct interaction might be allowed ( or even necessary ) only in case of an official scientific research such as tagging certain fish or during rescue activities . read our previous blog post do not harras the marine life - you may hurt them . some fish are known to attack humans , but they do that based on the defensive survival instincts . when they feel threatened , they become aggressive . among many different fish species in the ocean , titan triggerfish is one of the most fearsome . here are some things you should do if you ever find yourself under the triggerfish attack .
the halfmoom and bursa triggers , ( sufflamen chrysopterus ) , and ( sufflamen bursa ) respectively can also be kept in a community setting , as can the pinktail triggerfish , ( melichthys vidua ) , the bluechin triggerfish , ( xanthichthys auromarginatus ) , the crosshatch triggerfish , ( xanthichthys mento ) , and the sargassum triggerfish , ( xanthichthys ringens ) . the latter 4 species , as well as odonus niger have the distinction of being generally safe in reef settings , with the caveat that small shrimp should be added before the triggerfish , and the triggers themselves should generally be added last , and be the smallest fish in the tank . in fact , in all cases your trigger should be the last and smallest fish added to the community . the reason for this is that even relatively peaceable species like the huma huma , are only peaceable in relative terms ! they are still somewhat aggressive fish , and can do a fair amount of damage in an altercation . for this reason they generally should not only be added last , but also be the smallest fish in the tank . this mitigates the damage that these fish are capable of , and allows the trigger to become conditioned to the presence of his / her tank mates . simply following these two rules generally assures that the trigger does not establish itself as the dominant fish in the community , and allows the other inhabitants to adapt to the presence of the triggerfish . for their part , triggers are not generally susceptible to stress from larger , bullying tank mates , and they are quite well armored against anything short of a depth charge attack !
some of our diving guests in padangbai suggest that it is best to pretend you don’t care about the fish . of course this might not work when you actually are under the attack , but might be worth trying to avoid it in the first place . if you spot a titan triggerfish on alert , just pretend you don’t care and turn your back on them . use your equipment as defense even under attack , divers should not defend by being offensive or aggressive . when scuba diving , divers enter the territory of marine animals so it is only natural that some fish see divers as a threat . the fish attack in order to defend their territories . it is not fair to attack them back . instead of fighting back using a pointer or other edged weapon , try to block the attack by using your camera , dive slate or fins . triggerfish is both powerful and intelligent , they can learn from previous experience . recognize the fish as a preventive measure , learn to recognize triggerfish before you go diving . some prominent characteristics include purple lower jaw , green or yellow fins , and eye socket that rotates independently . triggerfish are solitary creatures but smaller fish often tag along to feed on the leftovers . this fish is active during the day and usually hiding in the reef at night . if you spot them , keep a safe distance and avoid diving toward their direction to minimize interaction . want to learn more about other curious fish ? read our blog post about what you didn’t know about nemo or how to behave around mola mola .
there is so many of them in the maldives , not only the titan ones but incredible amount of the black ones that swim in a group - it bit me hard through my pinky and 5 weeks on it is still very painful and the tissue has become hard under the skin . since that day i was also very cautious snorkelling , literally didn’t mins the sharks and rays at all but was looking out for the trigger jerks : - ) )
the other thing that helped reduce the level of destruction wrought by the trigger was the feeding regimen–the triggerfish was fed chunks of seafood several times a day . not only does frequent feeding mean your trigger is fat and happy , it also means the balistid is less likely to eat its neighbors .
the balistoids are laterally compressed , generally rhomboid shaped fishes , although a few species such as the clown triggerfish , are slightly elongated . they have a non - protrusible upper jaw , with hard , specialised teeth that in most species are designed for cracking the shells of various hard - shelled invertebrates .
speaking of things that should be kept out of the main tank , add your hands and arms to the list ! as much as possible anyway , you should avoid inserting your hands into a tank containing a large triggerfish – they can draw blood , and larger specimens ( though unlikely to be found in your home tank ) can remove fingers . the jaws of these fish are highly effective at what they are designed for , which is dismantling all manner of hardened items found in their environment . always be aware of where your triggerfish is when doing maintenance of your tank , even smaller specimens can deliver a painful and shocking bite .
so what about invertebrates ? is it really possible to keep triggers with animals they may perceive as prey ? the answer is yes and no . it is very important that you choose your triggerfish species and invertebrate tankmates very carefully . many triggerfish have highly varied diets that include many different types of invertebrates , as well as plant material and small fish . take a look at a dietary study on the commonly kept rectangular triggerfish ( rhinecanthus rectangulus ) . this study lists the following in r . rectangulus stomachs ( in order of importance in the diet ) : amphipods , tunicates , filamentous algae , crabs , polychaete worms , shrimps , coralline algae , snails , sea urchins , isopods , bryozoans , tiny clams , and crab larvae ! there are a lot of animals in that list that many reef aquarists would prefer to have flourish in their tanks . but note that there were no corals listed . that does not mean that all triggers are not a threat to corals . triggerfish are very opportunistic , and some larger species have been known to bite off coral branches to get at crabs or echinoderms that are hiding within a coral colony . those species would indeed be unwelcome in your small - polyped stony coral tank . there are also food habit studies that have listed the tips of stony corals in trigger stomachs .
“the triggerfish , she has a nest , ” jesse explained . on a whiteboard he drew a pile of rocks on the seafloor meant to represent the nest . “she stays near her nest all the time . and she has a territory around her nest , ” he went on , drawing as he spoke , “shaped like this . ”
no , its not a myth . i’ve been attacked by a titan trigger fish a few weeks ago in indonesia . first he went to my divemaster and then after me . it was not like attacking once and go , no , he tried to byte me at least 3 times . they´re nesting now i suppose , since a girl has been chased as well by one in the same morning . it happened at 20meters deep + or – . now i laugh at myself but at the moment i was like oh nooooo ahahah . greetings from lisbon , portugal
then you’re in for an extremely rewarding and entertaining experience , and only the size tank you can invest in limits your choice of triggerfish . keeping a single fish alone in a species tank is the only viable option for certain species , including b . undulatus , and v . vetula – the undulated and queen triggers respectively . in fact , of the dream tanks that this author aspires to keep on day is a 120 gallon tank with a single , adult undulates trigger . for the b . vetula , the 2’ queen triggerfish , it will have to be a tank in the 500 gallon range . now the aquarist is only faced with the challenge of dealing with the highly destructive capabilities of these fishes , and nothing is safe ! this means filters , powerheads , power cords and heaters ! for this reason , these items are best kept in a sump , and out of the main tank . they are also adept , ( and seemingly quite fond of ) , overturning and moving rocks and other pieces of décor . this tendency should be taken into account when aquascaping a tank that will eventually house and adult triggerfish .
from an evolutionary standpoint , triggerfish are some of the most advanced fish in the sea . they are heavily armored , intelligent hunter - killers of the reef , and have a set of jaws that can annihilate any hard - shelled invertebrate you care to name they can also destroy just about anything else you care to name , both alive and otherwise , but we’ll get to that shortly .
for those of you who fall into that category , it is possible to keep some of the triggers that have a more varied diet in a reef tank with certain invertebrates . for example , i once saw a clown triggerfish ( balistoides conspicillum ) in a reef tank ! the owners said they had the trigger in the tank for over a year and that it had not caused any problems . the cnidarian community consisted mainly of soft coral “trees” ( e . g . , sinularia , litophyton , lemnalia ) . many of those soft corals have toxins that make them unpalatable to the general predator . the tank contained no crustaceans , as the trigger would most likely make short work of them , but there were small demoiselles ( chrysiptera spp . ) that would dart into tight hiding places when the triggerfish got too close !
hi there . i enjoyed this thread . i was in sodwana bay earlier this year with my girlfriend , honing our underwater photography skills in this beautiful part of the planet . mid way through one of our dives , while skirting over the reef at a depth of around 50 feet , i felt this hard tug at my fin . at first i thought i had carelessly snagged my fin on the reef and was angry at myself . the tugging was intermittent and rapid in nature – my first clue that this was a creature . as i turned to see what was up , i noticed this adult male titan triggerfish going ballistic at my one fin – he was really pissed off . i’m telling you , 2ft + of raging fury was pretty terrifying . i kicked out – half in panic and half in frustration… . caught him square in the head too . it did nothing though and in an instant he was back at it . it wasn’t until i tried to swim away really quickly that he finally let up , turned… . . and attacked my girlfriend who was behind me , witnessing the event . she bolted too – sideways and had to swim a big loop to get back to our group . i realized after reading your information , that i had in fact turned on my back to face the creature and through it all i snapped away furiously with my camera . most pics were pretty blurred since my shutter speed was set for macro photography at the time , but a few images turned out ok . my girlfriend and i travel the globe to dive with sharks – that’s our passion . this was the most frightened we’ve ever been in the water . i’ll take sharks any day over an angry titan !
the triggerfish that are better suited to the reef aquarium have some special qualities that make them more “invert - friendly . ” first of all , most of the species that are good for reef aquariums feed primarily on zooplankton or floating algae . as a result , they are “designed” a little differently from their less selective cousins . they have slightly smaller mouths ( not well suited for destroying aquarium equipment , including heater tubes ! ) that are a bit higher up on the head . as far as their behavior is concerned , they tend to spend more time in the water column hunting their lilliputian foods . some of them ( e . g . , the crosshatch triggerfish , xanthichthys mento ) form groups because they are more vulnerable when they are farther from the reef . they choose to feed together because there is safety in numbers .
triggerfish can be quite aggressive in koh tao . here is a short compilation of some of the attacks we ' ve encountered whilst diving here ! no divers and no fish were injured in the making of this video : ) to license this video footage please email charlie . christie . mutch @ urltoken 1 video file - 20 gbp 20 % discount when ordering 20 + video files 50 % off when ordering 40 + video files
these bottom dwellers dig out prey , such as crabs and worms , by flapping away debris with their fins and sandblasting with water squirted from their mouths . they also use very tough teeth and jaws to take on sea urchins , flipping them over to get at their bellies , which are armed with fewer spines . triggerfish wreak such havoc on less fortunate reef dwellers that smaller fish often follow them to feast on their leftovers .
triggerfish tend to be solitary but meet at traditional mating grounds according to timetables governed by moons and tides . the males of many species appear to establish territories on these spawning grounds and prepare seafloor nests that will house tens of thousands of eggs . females share care of the eggs until they hatch , blowing water on them to keep them well supplied with oxygen . in some species males are known to maintain a harem of female mates .
triggerfish have also been implicated in biting and damaging glass aquarium heaters and both flexible and rigid tubing . although heater - biting is a relatively rare event , it is a good idea to protect that piece of equipment by placing it in a sump . if your aquarium is “sumpless” you can build a barrier around your heater using egg crate material or a piece of plastic that has had numerous holes drilled in it ( e . g . , material commonly sold for tank dividers ) . the best option , though , is to obtain a titanium heater , which is totally resistant to a triggerfish’s jaws . in addition to being trigger - proof , titanium heaters normally function better than standard glass heaters , and using an external thermostat reduces the risk of the heater’s getting stuck in the on position . frequently check any airline tubing in the aquarium to see whether it needs to be replaced .
the news couldn’t be better in this department – feeding a triggerfish is the easiest thing you can imagine . most species feed on hard shelled invertebrates in the wild , so they spend their day browsing the reef for crabs , shrimp , snails , etc . in captivity , they will accept a wide range of fresh and prepared fish foods , only leaving the aquarist the task of making sure that a variety of food items are offered , and that vitamin supplements are administered now and then to insure proper nutrition . aside from a variety of appropriate foods that can be purchased in frozen form at most better fish stores , the aquarist can brows the seafood counter at his or her local grocer , and find many things that will have a triggerfish eating out of the keepers hands in no time flat . a few of these items are fresh squid , octopus , scallops , fish , shrimp and crab . these foods can be cut into bite sized morsels and offered to the trigger 2 or 3 times a day . whole crayfish can even be offered , shell and all , and this will allow you to witness the business end of a triggerfish doing what it was meant to do…demolish and consume ! even the few available species that are planktivores in the wild readily accept and thrive on all the options mentioned above with the exception of large , whole invertebrates .


the luna moth ( actias luna ) is a lime-green , nearctic saturniid moth in the family saturniidae , subfamily saturniinae .

it has a wingspan of up to 114 mm ( 4.5 in ) , making it one of the largest moths in north america .

actias luna

luna moth , actias luna larva , late instar - actias luna - bugguide . net
maggie whitson marked
luna moth
as hidden on the
actias luna
page . reasons to hide : duplicate
charge dependent distribution of endogenous proteins within vitellogenic ovarian follicles of actias luna . - pubmed - ncbi
elza pap added the hungarian common name
amerikai holdasszövő
to
actias luna linnaeus 1758
.
emergence of the actias luna , the luna moth . ( silkmoth from north - america ) . it crawls out of its cocoon .
actias luna
amber
fifth instar , waynesboro , pennsylvania , august 7 , 2009 , courtesy of kristina kollman .
figure 2 . adult male luna moth , actias luna ( linnaeus ) . photograph by donald w . hall , entomology and nematology department , university of florida .
figure 3 . adult female luna moth , actias luna ( linnaeus ) . photograph by lyle j . buss , entomology and nematology department , university of florida .
figure 4 . eggs of the luna moth , actias luna ( linnaeus ) . photograph by donald w . hall , entomology and nematology department , university of florida .
figure 11 . cocoon of the luna moth , actias luna ( linnaeus ) . photograph by donald w . hall , entomology and nematology department , university of florida .
figure 13 . pupa of the luna moth , actias luna ( linnaeus ) . photograph by donald w . hall , entomology and nematology department , university of florida .
figure 15 . male pupa of the luna moth , actias luna ( linnaeus ) . photograph by donald w . hall , entomology and nematology department , university of florida .
figure 5 . first instar larva of the luna moth , actias luna ( linnaeus ) . photograph by donald w . hall , entomology and nematology department , university of florida .
figure 6 . second instar larva of the luna moth , actias luna ( linnaeus ) . photograph by donald w . hall , entomology and nematology department , university of florida .
figure 7 . third instar larva of the luna moth , actias luna ( linnaeus ) . photograph by donald w . hall , entomology and nematology department , university of florida .
figure 8 . fourth instar larva of the luna moth , actias luna ( linnaeus ) . photograph by donald w . hall , entomology and nematology department , university of florida .
figure 12 . pupa of the luna moth , actias luna ( linnaeus ) . lateral view . photograph by donald w . hall , entomology and nematology department , university of florida .
figure 9 . fifth ( last ) instar larva of the luna moth , actias luna ( linnaeus ) . photograph by donald w . hall , entomology and nematology department , university of florida .
figure 17 . emergence ( exit ) hole in cocoon of the luna moth , actias luna ( linnaeus ) . photograph by donald w . hall , entomology and nematology department , university of florida .
figure 16 . cut away of cocoon with split pupal exuvium of the luna moth , actias luna ( linnaeus ) . photograph by donald w . hall , entomology and nematology department , university of florida .
figure 20 . sweetgum , liquidambar styraciflua l . , a host of the luna moth , actias luna ( linnaeus ) . photograph by donald w . hall , entomology and nematology department , university of florida .
figure 21 . persimmon , diospyros virginiana l . , a host of the luna moth , actias luna ( linnaeus ) . photograph by donald w . hall , entomology and nematology department , university of florida .
figure 10 . fifth ( last ) instar larva ( more sertiferous ) of the luna moth , actias luna ( linnaeus ) . photograph by donald w . hall , entomology and nematology department , university of florida .
figure 19 . winged sumac , rhus copallinum l . , a host of the luna moth , actias luna ( linnaeus ) . photograph by donald w . hall , entomology and nematology department , university of florida .
priddle tr . 1967 . structures employed by actias luna ( saturniidae ) in effecting emergence from the cocoon . journal of the lepidopterists society 21 : 249 - 252 .
to cite this page : patlan , l . 2000 .
actias luna
( on - line ) , animal diversity web . accessed july 09 , 2018 at urltoken
figure 18 . pignut hickory , carya glabra ( mill . ) sweet , a host of the luna moth , actias luna ( linnaeus ) . photograph by donald w . hall , entomology and nematology department , university of florida .
wright da . 1967 . the effects of photoperiod on the initiation of pupal diapause in the wild silkworm , actias luna . journal of the lepidopterists society 21 : 255 - 258 .
figure 1 . in 1987 , the united states post office issued a first class stamp with the image of the luna moth , actias luna ( linnaeus ) . photograph by donald w . hall , entomology and nematology department , university of florida .
figure 14 . female pupa of the luna moth , actias luna ( linnaeus ) . note the two longitudinal notches on the ventral surface of the fourth and fifth totally exposed abdominal segments . photograph by donald w . hall , entomology and nematology department , university of florida .
some interesting facts about the luna moth in the u . s . | owlcation
i found a catapillar in september . a luna , when will it hatch ?
this helped me identify a luna month on my window ! spotted in texas .
kellog sk , fink ls , brower lp . 2003 . parasitism of native luna moths , actias luna ( l . ) ( lepidoptera : saturniidae ) by the introduced compsilura concinnata ( meigen ) ( diptera : tachinidae ) in central virginia , and their hyperparasitism by trigonalid wasps ( hymenoptera : trigonalidae ) . environmental entomology 32 : 1019 - 1027 .
the luna moth , actias luna ( linnaeus ) , is arguably our most beautiful moth . examples of its popularity include its appearance on a first class united states postage stamp issued in 1987 ( figure 1 ) ; its selection to grace the front cover of a field guide to moths of eastern north america ( covell 2005 ) ; and the use of an animated luna moth in the 2007 television commercials for the sleep aid lunesta .
chemical ecology of the luna moth : effects of host plant on detoxification enzyme activity .
just saw my first luna moth next to my sweetgum tree here in tampa . beautiful .
actias luna larva on hydrangea is a beautiful soft nature photograph of a bright green larva ( caterpillar ) on a purplish hydrangea bloom while the flower was in full bloom . this nature photo was taken on the grounds of bellevue state park , located in wilmington , delaware in the peaceful mansion gardens .
detailing the physical features , habits , territorial reach and other identifying qualities of the luna moth .
i just saw a luna moth in kirkland lake , ontario canada . what a beautiful site .
a male luna moth has been on my window screen for 3 days . central north carolina .
have a luna moth on my sweet gum tree every year ( today ) tx . beautiful ! !
luna moth caterpillars are herbivores that graze on the vegetation of trees . all stages provide food for predators .
i saw a luna moth , and it laid eggs on a chain link fence . is that normal ?
we saw a luna this morning in our garage . we live in texas . 9 / 28 / 2017
williams , amanda .
how to care for a luna caterpillar
accessed july 09 , 2018 . urltoken
chemical ecology of the luna moth : effects of host plant on detoxification enzyme activity . - pubmed - ncbi
i have an ulterior motive for appointing the luna moth caterpillar ( actias luna ) this week’s caterpillar of the week , which will be revealed in an upcoming spotlight on caterpillar anatomy . spoiler alert : that post will involve prolegs—and you should definitely get excited ! anyway , we hardly need a reason to feature lunas . regarded by many as the most gorgeous insect in all of north america , they bring publicity to our lab , not the other way around !
williams , amanda .
how to care for a luna caterpillar .
animals - urltoken , http : / / animals . urltoken / care - luna - caterpillar - 6557 . html . accessed 09 july 2018 .
greensboro , north carolina near lake townsend - had a luna moth this morning on my house under patio light .
williams , amanda . ( n . d . ) . how to care for a luna caterpillar . animals - urltoken . retrieved from http : / / animals . urltoken / care - luna - caterpillar - 6557 . html
first time i have seen the luna month . was on the screen at my back porch door in charlotte , nc
we saw a luna moth flying around on our back deck around 8 : 00 pm . st louis , mo !
luna moth insecta ( hexapoda ) > lepidoptera > saturniidae actias luna ( linnaeus ) photographer : gerald j . lenhard , descriptor : pupa ( e ) image citation : gerald j . lenhard , , urltoken image use : this image may be copied and used , in whole or in part , for any non - profit , educational purpose provided that all reproductions bear an appropriate credit . any commercial or other use of the image requires the written permission of the photographer or contact organization , and forestry images .
described and named ( as phalena plumata caudata ) by petiver in 1700 , the luna moth was the first north american saturniid to be reported in the literature ( tuskes et al . 1996 ) . the original latin name of the luna moth which referred to the long tails was lost when linnaeus converted the name to a binomial with the specific epithet luna in 1758 .
the luna moth exhibits a pheromone mating system . this ability to attract distant males via chemical communication is found in all female
we have two luna moths on our downspout today in the north georgia mountains . sosad that they live such short lives .
we have what we called
inch worms
all the time but it appears that it has been luna moth larva .
care required for a pupa and adult luna moth is minimal . pupa and adult luna moths do not eat or drink . all you need to do is place several sticks from the floor tilted up to the side of the shelter so the caterpillars have somewhere to prepare for their metamorphosis , and so adult luna moths have a place to climb and stretch their wings . you may also continue to spray their shelter with water to maintain humidity . adult luna moths normally live four to five days .
i just love the distinctive color of the luna moth , along with its long tails . it definitely stand out among other moths , especially for north american moths . in the midwest states , the luna moth flies from early april , to the end of august .
hello alexandra , thanks for sharing ! i hope to see one here yet ! i agree luna moths are enchanted little beings . paula
i had a luna moth land on my back at work last night . i was able to get a picture of it greenwood , sc
lindroth rl ( 1989 ) chemical ecology of the luna moth : effects of host plant on detoxification enzyme activity . j chem ecol 15 : 2019–2029
luna moths are often used in classrooms to teach insect life cycles . their beauty is appreciated as well by those lucky enough to spot them .
there is a luna moth on my back door now . it has been there for the last couple of days . ( nova scotia , canada )
i have never personally spotted a luna moth but thanks for introducing me to it . hopefully it will survive pesticides and continue to flourish in the wild .
luna caterpillars are hosts for a number of insect parasitoids in the families tachinidae , ichneumonidae , and pteromalidae ( tuskes et al . 1996 , kellog et al . 2003 ) . all luna moth stages also are subject to predation by a variety of invertebrates and / or vertebrate predators . the adults are not even safe at night . kellog et al . ( 2003 ) reported that the ground below an owl roost was littered with saturniid wings including those of luna moths .
luna moth larvae feed on the foliage of walnut , hickory , persimmon and sweet gum trees . adults don’t eat at all and only live about a week .
real natural american luna moth ( actius luna ) wings are naturally fluorescent green which makes our glowing luna moth magnets very realistic indeed . the wings of the unusually beautiful lunar moth not only glow in the dark , but they also have life - like moving wings and can be enjoyed day and night . collect all three glow - in - the - dark butterfly , moth , and giant firefly magnets including a luna moth glow magnet , a tropical glow butterfly , and a giant firefly ! what is the smallest butterfly ? the smallest butterfly is the western pygmy blue ( brephidium exilis ) from africa , which has a half an inch wingspan .
lindroth rl . 1989 . chemical ecology of the luna moth : effects of host plant on detoxification enzyme activity . journal of chemical ecology 15 : 2019 - 2029 .
thank you for sharing , jane . i think they are more active at night . i hope the luna moth was ok after being harassed by the little one .
i just had a luna moth hanging out on the edge of my outdoor umbrella . it was beautiful and about 5 inches wide and long . what a blessing .
urltoken watch a luna moth female calling a male with pheromones . find science explorations and other good stuff for kids , parents , and teachers here : urltoken and here urltoken
i found a luna moth on sidewalk in front of kroger . i think she is barely hanging on . should ii put her in a tree ? she is gorgeous .
the luna moth occurs in the forested areas of north america . they seem to prefer decidous woodlands , with trees such as the hickory , walnut , sumacs , and persimmon .
today the luna moth is featured in television commercials for a popular sleeping pill , and ( somewhat absurdly ) on cans of moth balls marketed to control moths that infest clothing .
hi carrol , it is a very special thing to see a luna moth like that in your backyard ! thank you for sharing . i hope you get to see more .
we ' ve had a luna moth hanging on one of the screens on our screened in porch since this morning , it ' s the first one i ' ve ever seen .
my husband spotted the beautiful luna moth early this morning , may 8 , 2018 above the garage door . it is very near to the sweetgum tree in the yard . eastern indiana
luna moths have often been used in classrooms to help teach insect life cycles . they have also proven good subjects in ecology and evolutionary biology ( tuskes et al . , 1996 ) .
the luna moth is a wild silk moth . wild silk moths have declined in numbers since the 1960 ' s due to habitat destruction and increased use of bright vapor lights that disrupt mating ( tuskes et al . , 1996 ) . however , luna moths are not listed as threatened by the iucn , the u . s . government , or the state of michigan .
the luna moth is a nocturnal species ( tuskes et al . , 1996 ) , and is not often seen in the daytime ( holland , 1908 ) . as do many saturniids , the luna moth uses wing patterns as a defense against predators . the luna moth can mimic living and dead leaves on the ground by remaining motionless when not involved in reproductive behavior and also becomes nearly impossible to see during the day when roosting on the bark of sycamore trees . the moths will also dramatically flutter their wings when attacked ( tuskes et al . , 1996 ) .
i have a luna moth , a walking stick and a st andrews spider all taking up residency on my back deck . they must know it ' s a safe place to hang out !
i recall the first time i saw a luna moth , and i was so amazed . it was such an interesting color , and had such unique markings , and the size alone was eyecatching . i was able to capture it in a picture , and i was so glad . it got me curious to learn more about the luna moth , which is also known as the american moon moth .
july 8 , 2018 luna moth on our deck in vermont , it doesn ' t have the second set of
eye spots
. the one i saw 4 weeks ago had great big eye spots
hi linda , luna moths are such amazing creatures , and i love that you thought it was a decoration even ! they look just amazing , and i find them fascinating . thanks for sharing here ! paula
i saw a luna moth for the first time ever on 05 / 14 / 18 . it was sitting in the grass outside magna seating south carolina in moore , sc . it appeared to be a leaf .
this is my first time seeing a luna moth , and oh what a sight she is ! she ' s been been right outside my door since last night . i ' m here in nashville , tn .
the family name saturniidae is based on the eyespots of some members of the family that contain concentric rings reminiscent of the planet saturn ( powell 2003 ) . the luna moth gets its name from its moon - like spots .
luna antennae are quadripectinate ( comb - like on four sides ) with those of males being larger than those of females . males are more yellowish - green while females are more blue - green in color ( packard 1914 ) .
i ' m in smithfield va and each year we see at least one luna moth on our moon flower vine . we plant moon flower every year just to see these moths although the flowers are beautiful and smell so sweet !
. undeterred by obstacles such as leaves and branches , the male moths will persistently follow the scent trail of a female . then the female will typically mate with the first male to reach her . since the luna moth is a nocturnal species , mating usually occurs in the first hours after midnight . if the pair is undisturbed then they will remain in copula until the next evening , but the slightest disturbance can cause separation . after the separation of the pair , then ovipostion will begin and continue for several nights . a female luna moth will seek a host plant in which to oviposit . some populations of luna moths complete more than one generation in a year . ( tuskes et al . , 1996 ) .
i just saw a luna moth in columbus ohio sitting next to my front door at 12 am . he had to be every bit of 5 inches . i didn ' t know what it was and it kind of freaked me out .
beautiful luna moth was on the siding of my house yesterday afternoon , may 6 , 2018 . my husband noticed around 10 : 30 pm it had obviously been active and was now clinging to the sunroom window screen . trussville , alabama .
i have a luna moth at this moment on the stone siding of my home . i saw it there last evening and it is still there today . this is the second year i have seen one it is in the same spot .
in canada and the northern border states within its range , the luna caterpillar shows a preference for white / paper birch ( betula paperifera ) , and the moth is usually single brooded with most adults flying from late may to early july .
once you have acquired luna moth eggs , gently relocate them to a stable and permanent shelter , such as a plastic fish tank or a cleaned - out gallon milk jug . cover the tank or jug with a secured screen or breathable cheesecloth . avoid a shelter that is too small or that has breathing holes with rough edges , where caterpillars could be injured . use a spray bottle to mist the shelter every few days to maintain humidity . it typically takes 10 days for luna moth eggs to hatch .
they have their
calling time
around the midnight hour . the calling time for the luna moth ( and for many moths ) is when pheromones are released . the time frame for luna moths is two to three hours long . this is the time that most males are active . in the saturniidae family , you will see the pheromone activity the most active compared to the other
families
of butterflies and moths . once in a mating position , they can stay there for up to 20 hours .
i woke up this morning to find a luna moth just testing on the bricks ! i ' m in charleston s . c . my 5 and 6 year i ' ll came out and we were looking at the amazing creature that came to visit !
this beautiful and exotic moth is large . it ranges from 3 to 4 . 5 inches and the name is technically actias luna ( linnaeus ) . its wings are a pale green , and has delicate tail streamers . the wings are broad , and have a reddish rust color along the edges of both the fore wings and hind wings . depending on the region , the colors can vary from more bluish green to a yellow in the background coloring . along the fore wings in the very front you will see a darker purplish gray color . from a distance however , it is primarily a beautiful lime green , and the very distinctive
eye spots
are just fascinating to observe . this surely helps to protect from would be predators , that would rather move on than mess around with something that has eyes that appear to be that big !
good luck . i have reared thousands of luna caterpillars over the years , and there is still something very magical in the appearance of a mature larva , especially if it has turned a bright burgundy just before spinning . large translucent green larvae are also a wonderment .
luna moths are usually found in and near deciduous woodlands , where their larval food plants occur : walnut , hickory , persimmon and sweet gum . in some areas , populations have declined due to habitat destruction and increased use of bright lights at night , which can disrupt mating cycles .
there’s nothing quite like watching a vibrant green , wild luna caterpillar chowing down on a leaf . during my first summer with the lab in 2014 , at a certain point , we hatched way too many locally collected luna eggs . i had the privilege of releasing some early instars on hickory trees in my yard . every day , i checked on them . naturally , most disappeared due to predation , but a few reached their final instar , growing into a plump , juicy , luminous green body that we can never quite replicate in captivity . the experience was enthralling .
a luna moth was on the door of a nail salon in dartmouth , ma the 2nd week of june 2017 . it stayed attached to the outside of door for several hours and did not seem to be disturbed by the motion of the door and a child who was harassing it .
adults : the adult wingspan is 75 to 105 mm ( covell 2005 ) . adult luna moths are large green moths with a long tail on each hind wing and discal eyespots on both the fore and hind wings ( figures 2 and 3 ) . the luna moth is univoltine ( one generation ) from michigan northward , bivoltine throughout the ohio valley , and trivoltine southward ( tuskes et al . 1996 ) . in louisiana and florida , adults may be found during every month of the year also , reared specimens often differ in coloration from those in nature ( ferguson 1972 ) .
the luna moth is primarily a species of deciduous or mixed forests and hardwood swamps where its food plants grow . although caterpillars do occur in suburban yards , cocoons in such places are likely to be removed when leaves are raked in the fall . luna moths are common in most eastern forests , but might still be rare in some parts of new england , where these and many other large moths with summer caterpillars declined drastically or died out in the mid to late 20th century , probably due mostly to high mortality of larvae caused by an introduced parasitic fly intended to control gypsy moth populations .
the luna moth is an insect herbivore . as a caterpillar it feeds on the foliage of various species of hickory , walnut , sweet - gum , persimmon , and birch trees ( holland , 1908 ) . it has been reported that it is particularly fond of the persimmon ( holland , 1908 ) .
caterpillars reared on juglone - producing plants in lindroth’s study developed highly increased levels of an enzyme that helped them tolerate juglone in their diets . luna caterpillars reared on birch , which doesn’t produce juglone , had such low levels of this enzyme that lindroth speculated their bodies never began to produce the enzyme at all .
my daughter had this beautiful catapillar on her shoe . we researched and found out it was the luna moth . that same night i made a home for it in an old fish tank with birch leaves . the very next day it was completely cocooned up . very sad i missed the process . however she ( luna ) is being well watched until she turns into her beautiful new self . i live in eastern ny so this is the last cycle . very sad really . we plan on letting her out at night n having a nice fire . its only been 2 weeks so a few more to go . .
luna caterpillars gain protection from predators by their cryptic green coloration . when threatened they often rear the front part of the body in a
sphinx
pose – possibly to make them less caterpillar - like to a predator . if attacked , luna caterpillars as well as those of many other bombycoid moths make a clicking noise with the mandibles – sometimes as a prelude to or accompanied by defensive regurgitation of distasteful fluids . brown et al . ( 2007 ) found that ants and mice were deterred by the regurgitant of the polyphemus moth , antheraea polyphemus ( cramer ) , and suggested that the clicking is a warning of the impending regurgitation .
before the eggs hatch , determine a host plant , such as the white oak or black walnut . it is beneficial to add a variety of host plant leaves and let the caterpillars choose their favorite , then solely feed them their preferred variety . as soon as the caterpillars hatch from their eggs , place several fresh host plant leaves in their shelter . upon hatching , luna caterpillars will begin eating immediately . since they derive their nutrients and water supply from the leaves you provide to them , replacing the leaves inside their shelter daily is essential . luna caterpillars shed their skin over a period of four weeks until they are fully grown .
i wish you could see the one picture more close up , as it shows the luna moths feathery antennae . these moths are just amazing creatures to behold , and i felt very lucky that day in arkansas when i saw the moth . it was just resting among the rocks as you can see in my picture .
the luna moth is an easily distinguishable species with long sweeping hindwing tails and varying in color from yellowish green to pale bluish green ( carter , 1992 ) . both sexes are similar in size , but males have a more strongly feathered antennae ( tuskes et al . , 1996 ; carter , 1992 ) . the wingspan ranges from 80mm - 115mm ( carter , 1992 ) . this species also exhibits both polyphenism and regional phenotypic variation ( tuskes et al . , 1996 ) . in its early stages the luna moth is a green caterpillar that has hair , spiny tubercles , and a yellow stripe on each side ( holland , 1908 ; grzimek , 1972 ) .
hatchling luna larvae ( caterpillars ) show two different color forms . they can either be all greyish green or they can be greyish green with black markings : a thin black strip across top of the head , a black lateral stripe , one on each side , and a thin black bridge across the back near the first abdominal segment .
the habitat you will most often find the luna moth is deciduous woodland in north america , although there are fewer in canada . the foliage of trees like birch , willow and alder , walnut ( or juglans nigra ) , persimmon ( or diospyros virginiana ) , and sweet gum ( liquidambar stryaciflua ) are the food the larva feed off of . luna moths like broad leaved forests , including ones with hickory trees . so if you hope to attract these beauties to your area , those would be good choices to plant . the adults will be attracted to areas with these trees , so their young have the right food to eat when they
hatch
from their eggs .
i was fortunate enough for the first time today to see my first luna moth . he / she was on my mailbox on the brick part . a few hours later it was on the curb just below my mailbox . i ' m in texas , just east of houston . what a beautiful moth . i took pictures of it too .
watching caterpillars transform into moths is enjoyable , especially when you play an active role in the process . raising caterpillars is a fun , hands - on learning process for insect lovers , from first - timers to experienced hobbyists . when raising luna caterpillars , consider care components such as shelter , food and water , proper handling and pupa and adult care .
the luna moth occurs widespread in the forested areas of north america ( carter , 1992 ) . in canada the species has been found from nova scotia through central quebec and ontario . in the united states the species has been found in every state east of the great plains all the way south to northern mexico ( tuskes et al . , 1996 ) .
in the united states , these moths are actually fairly common in the eastern united states , and some states , like missouri , arkansas and others . you can sometimes see them in southern canada . luna moths are large enough , that you would see the shadow of them flying by , or could darken a room if they landed on a light bulb !
luna cocoons are papery thin and pupae outlines can easily be seen when the cocoon is held up to a bright light . winter diapause stock tends to spin a courser , darker silk . in regions of the united states where lunas are double or triple brooded 25 - 40 % of early brood stock caterpillars will spin the darker cocoon and overwinter instead of eclosing that same summer .
in some areas where there has been a lot of spraying with pesticides , it could be very rare you see one of these beautiful luna moths . they are simply becoming harder and harder to find . evidently , even in the best of conditions , the number of luna moths are rather small . a single planeload of pesticides can supposedly wipe out the species for decades ! when i heard this , i was so sad . i understand the need for pesticides , but if this species was totally wiped out , i think i may have rather gone with the lack of pesticides . i suppose it depends on the survival of humanity , but we are not at a point where this seems to be a critical concern . so it is something worth thinking about , or possibly limiting .
saw my first luna moth on thursday night , june 14 , 2018 . the beautiful moth was on the mud room back door and flew into the garage when we opened the door . we left the garage door open for quite a while and then closed it . our son took a picture of it the next day hanging off the light fixture . we live in mid - coast maine .
one of the most beautiful natural sights i ever witnessed as a young boy occurred one may morning when i chased an errant baseball into a mature hickory stand in new jersey . sunlight streamed through small openings in the leafy canopy onto lush ground foliage on the forest floor . a fully expanded , freshly emerged luna hung about one foot from the ground on the underside of a skunk cabbage stem .
broadleaf host plants belonging to a large number of genera have been reported as hosts for luna moths ( godfrey et al . 1987 , tietz 1972 ) . however , some of the reported host plants may not be suitable for all populations of lunas . lindroth et al . ( 1989 ) studied first instar survival , duration of larval stage , and pupal weights of caterpillars fed on eleven different plant species and found that survival was poor on some plant species that were reported in the literature as hosts . it appears that different geographical populations of luna moths are adapted to different host plants ( lindroth et al . 1989 , tuskes et al . 1996 ) . lindroth et al . ( 1989 ) suggested that biochemical detoxification of host defensive chemicals by caterpillar enzymes may be a factor in this host plant specialization .
on 8 / 31 / 17 my daughter found a luna moth worm . so we took it home and put it in a big open glass bowl . i have documented it with photos . what an amazing sight so far . found out with the help of google , that it didn’t like apple trees but loves diamond willow . we placed the willow branches in the bowl and it immediately started its cocoon . on 9 / 1 / 17 at 6 : 00am it started its silk and finished on 9 / 2 / 17 at 3 : 30pm . been waiting all winter for it to hatch . i thought maybe it had died but now know it can take until july for it to become a moth . wish i could share the photos ! i will update when it turns to a beautiful luna moth : ) hope you all are enjoying nature’s beauty !
according to a 1989 study by richard lindroth , luna caterpillars’ ability to eat those hickory leaves ( as well as the leaves of many other preferred host plant species , such as butternut and walnut ) depends on the lunas’ enzyme production . hickory , butternut , and walnut trees all produce a defensive chemical called juglone . juglone can repel other plants from growing in the vicinity of these trees , and inhibit insects from dining on them .
i once sent a first time customer five luna cocoons . upon receipt she
freaked out
and in a bit of a rage phoned me to complain that my cocoons were full of wasps and bees . she could hear them buzzing around in the cocoons . i explained that the sound was the sound of the pupae wiggling against the sides of their cocoons . i am not sure that she believed me until the beautiful moths emerged in the spring .
a beautiful luna moth is clinging to door jamb outside on my deck this morning , may 12 in suwanee , ga . i ' ve never seen one before . we have a sweet gum tree that overhangs the deck , and while sweeping those annoying spiky balls off the deck every day is a pain , ( i was even thinking of cutting the tree down . . . oh no ! ! ) now i know that the tree attracts this gorgeous critter ! !
hi , i stumbled upon this amazing caterpillar trying to take a photo of another caterpillar , but since i am so light footed , observant and careful i didn ' t . i thought at first it was some kind of weird seed pod until i saw it eating . the caterpillar i spotted looks very close to yours , but my caterpillars seem a little larger . i hope i ' m accurate on the luna moth if not it ' s something almost identical .
luna caterpillars are said to be in their first instar stage when they hatch from the eggs . each time they shed their skins , they move into a new instar , i . e . , second instar , third instar , fourth instar and the fifth instar . the time spent in each instar will vary with local conditions , usually anywhere from 3 - 7 days in each of the first four instars , and 6 - 14 days in the fifth ( final instar ) .
if you are going to overwinter the cocoons outdoors , make sure they are in a rodent proof cage , and one that will not overheat . it is also recommended that the cage sit on the ground and there not be airflow under the cocoons . windchills could take a toll . in their natural environment luna pupae spend their winters in cocoons that have fallen from the trees during leaf drop , or the larvae have crawled or dropped from the tree and spin cocoons among leaf litter .
observation of the spinning process can be interesting . the caterpillars work tirelessly to pull some leaves together , anchoring them with a continuous strand of silk . the cocoon is often complete within a few hours . generally ( not always ) luna caterpillars that are going to overwinter in their cocoons will take on an amber to burgundy colouration just prior to spinning . they tend to spin a darker , coarser , thicker silk cocoon than the larvae ( successive brood ) which are not going to overwinter .
the map below showcases ( in red ) the states and territories of north america where the luna moth may be found ( but is not limited to ) . this sort of data can be useful in seeing concentrations of a particular species over the continent as well as revealing possible migratory patterns over a species ' given lifespan . some species are naturally confined by environment , weather , mating habits , food resources and the like while others see widespread expansion across most , or all , of north america .
successive brood larvae tend to spin lighter beige cocoons with finer silk as compared to the overwintering brood . in either case , caterpillars will shed their skins one more time inside the cocoon , usually 2 - 5 days after spinning , depending upon temperature , and enter the pupal stage . if you hold a five day old cocoon up to a light , you can usually see the outline of the pupa and the discarded skin through the walls of the cocoon . luna pupae tend to be quite active .
when caterpillars are full - grown , they may begin to wander . the cocoon is spun among the leaves of the deciduous host plants but is not anchored to a twig as is the case with many polyphemus moth cocoons . therefore , they fall to the ground in autumn ( holland 1968 ) as the leaves fall and are not commonly seen . development from hatching to pupation takes a month or longer depending on temperature . luna moth caterpillars are never sufficiently common to cause significant damage to their host trees .
probably the most recognized moth in north america , the luna moth is easily recognized by the green color , large wing span of about 3 - 4 inches , long tails , and eyespot on each wing . no other species in north america remotely resembles a luna moth . the earliest spring adults are much brighter green than later adults . females are lighter than males . in southern populations there is often a row of dark spots or a thin dark line on the forewing , as on the male illustrated here . the caterpillars are green with a brown head , but may become brown a day or so before they spin their cocoon . the body has a variable amount of sparse hairs ( but no spines ) . markings include a lengthwise yellowish line on each side and yellow between most of the segments , but no diagonal lateral ( side ) streaks . caterpillars of the polyphemus moth are similar but have conpsicuous diagonal yellowish lines on each abdominal segment and they are usually found on oaks , maples , and willows .
the larva of the luna moth are bright green ( see video below ) and have narrow yellow lines on them . there is a band of yellowish spiracles , and some reddish colored tubercles on each side . some have observed raised pink spots , and this can vary from region to region . the head of the caterpillar is a brownish color . when the time comes for it to spin its cocoon it will do so in areas where there is a lot of leaves on the ground , among the leaves . its cocoon is thin and silken .
the soft moth ( female to left , note narrow antennae ) can escape through a hole roughly 3 / 8 inch in diameter . once out of the cocoon , the moth must climb to hang its wings for inflation . i place my luna cocoons in a 11
x11
x 2 ' emerging cage made out of folded hardware cloth with a 1 / 2 inch mesh . the newly emerged , soft , pliant moths climb up the wire and hang from either the top or upper reaches of the sides . photo courtesy of john h . campbell
luna caterpillars have incredibly variable diets overall , but very specific local preferences . in lindroth’s study , he attempted to raise lunas on 11 different recorded host plants , and only experienced success with four of these . why didn’t all of the caterpillars thrive ? lindroth hypothesized that local populations of lunas are specifically adapted to certain host plant species , possibly based on the types of enzymes their bodies produce to help them consume their food . since his lunas all came from one regional population , they might not have been equipped with the adaptations necessary to eat plants that lunas in other areas thrive on .
here on prince edward island where i rear most of my luna larvae outdoors on live trees covered with rearing sleeves , the larvae require approximately five or six weeks ( 35 - 42 days ) to grow from hatchlings to cocoon spinners . it is rare that we get temperatures above 90 f in summer time . some years it seems it is even rare if we get temperatures into the 80 ' s . most summer days are in the 70 ' s and we usually get cooler , darker , rainy days once or twice a week . night time temps often dip into the 60 ' s .
my best suggestion is that if you wish to rear larvae and have luna cocoons that overwinter , then you need to rear in such a way ( at such a time ) that larvae pass through their fourth instar with hours of light under 14 hours per day and be on a diminishing photo period cycle . if you ask me questions accompanied with specific information supplied , i can only offer a best guess . other obervations would be appreciated . please provide data : date , location , rearing conditions if you are going to submit observations . please provide same if you are going to ask questions . email :
there are may ways to rear luna moths . airtight jars / containers is recommended for indoor rearing , at least for the first three instars to prevent desiccation / dehydration of larvae . once the larval bulk increases , the airtight conditions to conserve the moisture in the foliage is probably not quite as critical , but i would recommend putting the cut ends of foodplant stems in water that the caterpillars cannot crawl into if you are going to rear outdoors on cut food in screened cages or if you are going to rear indoors ( after third instar only ) on cut food in an airy container ( screened cage ) .
daily interaction with your luna caterpillars should include frequent cleanings of the shelter . directly after the caterpillars hatch , line the bottom of their shelter with paper towels to catch droppings . at the end of each day , toss the paper towels out and replace them . this helps prevent the growth of mold . if you choose to handle your caterpillars , be very gentle . wash your hands before and after accessing their shelter to prevent the spread of bacteria . do not pull or tug on the caterpillars . let them come to you and climb off you on their own , as being forceful may damage their appendages .
nick boyonoski and scott bessin provided technical assistance , dr . martha lutz reared the first generation of luna moths in kentucky , and dr . eric chapman helped find suitable field locations in kentucky . clint patterson , berea college forester , provided us with access to the berea college forest . the experiments conducted in kentucky were supported by the kentucky agricultural experiment station ( national institute of food and agriculture , u . s . department of agriculture , hatch project ky008066 1003549 ) , the experiments in ontario were supported by natural resources canada , and jgm acknowledges support from hatch project ca - r * ent - 5181 - h .
the series of photos above show the luna caterpillar from 1st instar to cocoon . it takes about 10 days for the egg to hatch into a tiny caterpillar and about 5 - 6 weeks to grow into the full its size of about 2 . 5 inches long and 3 / 4 inch in diameter . the caterpillars are green in all instars except the first and resemble polyphemus . the 5th instar caterpillars are not as voracious as polyphemus and it was a little easier to keep them supplied with leaves . i raised 15 on sweet gum and they did very well as the cocoons were all larger than those of their parents .
i work with a number of subcontractors in the united states who can ship luna eggs for me at various times , starting as early as march in alabama and as late as september from new jersey . in most cases , the subcontractors have either captured wild female moths at lights or have obtained pairings of their own reared or purchased females with wild males . fresh eggs are shipped at a time appropriate to their rearing in the respective areas of customers . shippers indicate the date of deposit with each shipment . eggs typically take eight days ( 80 - 85 f ) to twelve days ( 68 f ) to incubate , depending on storage temperature .
many of you will have cocoons that are not going to overwinter . in the spring of march 2008 a shipping partner in southern alabama obtained a luna pairing ( wild males flying ) on march 9 . he reared the larvae outdoors in sleeves and the caterpillars started spinning cocoons on april 27 . i suspect moths from these cocoons will begin hatching the second or third week in may after spending only two to three weeks in cocoons . in contrast , on march 9 on p . e . i . in eastern canada , where i live , we were having a blizzard . there are still no leaves on the trees and there are patches of snow on the ground in shaded ditches as of may 3 .
i ' m in the suburbs and let a part of my yard 100 % natural . i never spray pesticides ever ! ! ! i have so many amazing moths , butterflies and insects in my yard . so please everyone don ' t spray pesticide . enjoy the wildlife and see the beauty in nature . it ' s much more fascinating for kids as well as adults to experience these rare kind of sightings as the luna moth . i stopped my young kid neighbor passing by and within in an hour he had all his friends looking at the caterpillar and they were amazed and fascinated . letting your yard grow natural while keeping some tidy flower gardens on the outskirts looks beautiful and helps our wildlife . thank you for the great post !