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Broken Moth Wing (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Leanova
- Start date
honeym
Well-known member
Hi
Your moth a a Luna moth (Actias luna). Moths (and butterflies) can lose quite a large amount of their wing and are still able to fly so I'm not sure why yours can't. Sometimes moths 'play dead' or act like they can't fly to fool predators. perhaps that's what it was doing.
The wings do not have nerves running through them - they are effectively small wing buds that are inflated with fluid just after the moth emerges from the pupa, the fluid is pumped back out and the 'veins' sealed up. They are no more 'live' than human hair.
I would place the moth in a shaded place away from predators and lights. If it's not there in the morning then it was quite capable of flight. I wouldn't bother removing the damaged part -let nature take its course.
Best wishes
Martin
Your moth a a Luna moth (Actias luna). Moths (and butterflies) can lose quite a large amount of their wing and are still able to fly so I'm not sure why yours can't. Sometimes moths 'play dead' or act like they can't fly to fool predators. perhaps that's what it was doing.
The wings do not have nerves running through them - they are effectively small wing buds that are inflated with fluid just after the moth emerges from the pupa, the fluid is pumped back out and the 'veins' sealed up. They are no more 'live' than human hair.
I would place the moth in a shaded place away from predators and lights. If it's not there in the morning then it was quite capable of flight. I wouldn't bother removing the damaged part -let nature take its course.
Best wishes
Martin
