Editing Luna moth (section)

== Description ==

Eggs, attached in small groups to undersides of leaves, are mottled white and brown, slightly oval, and roughly 1.5 millimeters in diameter.<ref name=UnivFL /> Larvae are primarily green, with sparse hairs. The first [[instar]], emerging from the egg, reaches a length of {{convert|6-8|mm|abbr=on}}, the second {{convert|9-10|mm|abbr=on}}, the third {{convert|12-16|mm|abbr=on}} and the fourth {{convert|23-26|mm|abbr=on}}. The fifth (final) instar grows to approximately {{convert|70-90|mm|abbr=on}} in length.<ref name=UnivFL/> Small, colorful dots &ndash; yellow or magenta &ndash; may line the sides of the fourth and fifth instars. The larvae may take on a reddish-brown color just prior to [[Cocoon (silk)|cocooning]]. Fifth-instar larvae descend to the ground and use silk to bind dead leaves around the cocoon.<ref name=Tuskes1996/>

The [[imago]]es (winged, sexually mature), often referred to as adult moths, emerge from the [[pupae]] with the wings small, crumpled and held close to the body. Over several hours the wings will enlarge to full size. Wingspan is typically {{convert|8|–|11.5|cm|in|abbr=on}}, and in rare instances as much as {{convert|17.78|cm|in|abbr=on}}. Females and males are similar in size and appearance: green wings, eyespots on both forewings and hind wings, and long, sometimes somewhat twisted tails extending from the back edge of the hindwings. Bodies are white and hairy. Adults have [[vestigial]] mouthparts and do not feed. Energy is from fat stores created while a caterpillar. The forward edge of the forewing is dark-colored and thick, tapering in thickness from the thorax to the wing tip. Its color can range from maroon to brown. The eyespots, one per wing, are oval in shape on the forewings and round on the hindwings. Each eyespot can have arcs of black, blue, red, yellow, green or white. The [[eyespot (mimicry)|eyespots]] are thought to confuse potential predators.<ref name=Tuskes1996/><ref name=UnivFL/>

There are some sex-determined and regional differences in appearance. Females will have a larger abdomen compared to males because it contains 200&ndash;400 eggs. Both sexes have [[Antenna (biology)|antennae]], but on the male, much longer and wider. Wing color is blue-green in the north and for the overwintering generation in the central and southern states; second and third generation wing color has more of a yellow-green tint.<ref name=Tuskes1996/>