Knowledgebase

Did this Luna Moth die while giving birth? #266390

Asked July 31, 2015, 10:59 AM EDT

I found this beautiful moth in my yard this morning and it appears to be dead.   It was heavily covered with morning dew and I tried to carefully dry it to see if it would "come to" but it never did.  I am so entranced (and strangely sad) by it that I am thinking about suspending it in resin.  As you can see in photos, it looks like it was either giving birth or doing "something else" when it died.  Can anyone confirm or deny this?  If it was indeed laying eggs when it died, is there any chance of this pupa surviving?  I will go put it back where I found it if the pupa might survive. 

Bonus!  Is there anyway that this moth is just asleep and will wake up at night or something?  I don't want to put it in resin if there is any possibility of life in any capacity.

Thank you for your time--I really do not know a lot about insects and I appreciate your help!

Casey County Kentucky

Expert Response

I think its safe to say the moth is dead. It is heard to tell in the photo but insects will often excrete waste or release eggs as they are dying. I've seen beetles do this often when they are caught on a sticky trap. If they are indeed eggs that you are observing you can try to remove the eggs and hatch them.

An Ask Extension Expert Replied July 31, 2015, 2:21 PM EDT

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