Editing Luna moth (section)

== Host plants ==
The larvae of Luna moths feed on several different species of [[broadleaf trees]]. The larvae do not reach population densities sufficient to cause significant damage to their host trees.<ref name=UnivFL /> Tuskes listed white birch (''[[Betula papyrifera]]''), American persimmon (''[[Diospyros virginiana]]''), American sweet gum (''[[Liquidambar styraciflua]]''), plus several species of [[hickory]] (''Carya''), [[walnut]] (''Juglans'') and [[sumac]] (''Rhus'') as host plants for the caterpillars.<ref name=Tuskes1996/> Other tree species have been identified as suitable for ''Actias luna'' larvae, but a feeding experiment that also included [[black cherry]], [[eastern cottonwood]], [[quaking aspen]], [[white willow]], [[red oak]], [[white oak]] and [[tulip tree]] reported very poor survival on these seven tree species even though older literature had identified them as hosts. The author suggested that host plant utilization may differ regionally, so that larvae collected from one region may not tolerate host plants readily consumed in another region (northern populations often lose the ability to digest sweetgum, while southern ones may undergo the same with willows).<ref name=Lindroth1989/> Biochemical detoxification of host plant defensive chemicals by digestive system enzymes may be a factor in regional host plant specialization.<ref name=Lindroth1989/> [[Juglone]] is a chemical compound common to walnut and hickory which most insects find a deterrent or even toxic. Luna moth larvae have higher concentrations of juglone-neutralizing digestive system enzymes compared to other [[lepidoptera]], and concentrations were even higher when larvae were fed walnut or hickory leaves versus white birch or American sweet gum. This suggests evolutionary and inducible adaptations to allow consumption of certain host plants.<ref name=Lindroth1989>{{cite journal |vauthors=Lindroth RL |s2cid=24487403 |title=Chemical ecology of the luna moth: Effects of host plant on detoxification enzyme activity |journal=Journal of Chemical Ecology |volume=15 |issue=7 |pages=2019–2029 |date=1989 |pmid=24272292 |doi=10.1007/BF01207434 |bibcode=1989JCEco..15.2019L }}</ref>