Everyone has heard the saying "Life is short." For some insects, this means that their time is up in mere days not years. While researching identities of some of the region's silk moths, their brief time as adult moths came to light.
While on one of our daily walks, I came across a torn and tattered Luna moth and wondered if it was at the end of its life cycle?
"As with many other silk moths, Luna moths do not feed as adults. The food (energy) for the adult stage is stored during the caterpillar stage," said a post on the Clemson Cooperative Extension's Home and Garden Information Center's site.
"Luna moths live approximately one week after emerging from the cocoon," the post continued. "Once females lay eggs, they die."
After some more research, they are not the only moths that live only to breed.
"As with many other silk moths, Luna moths do not feed as adults. The food (energy) for the adult stage is stored during the caterpillar stage," said a post on the Clemson Cooperative Extension's Home and Garden Information Center's site.
"Luna moths live approximately one week after emerging from the cocoon," the post continued. "Once females lay eggs, they die."
After some more research, they are not the only moths that live only to breed.
At the end of June I came upon an imperial moth. A few days later there were two imperial moths.
A post on mothidentification.com, provided some additional information on the colorful creatures.
The post said the adult lifespan is about seven days and the moths like the Luna moths, don't feed as adults.
"When the wings are opened, they appear yellow with brown, purple, and red blotches.
When the wings are closed, the color remains the same, the spots partially visible. The male and female imperial moths are a little different from one another regarding color patterns.
While the males are heavily marked with patches and spots, the female moths appear more yellow," the post continued.
The average wingspan is from eight to 17.5 cm.
The piece listed the moth's season in the north as from June to August.
A post on mothidentification.com, provided some additional information on the colorful creatures.
The post said the adult lifespan is about seven days and the moths like the Luna moths, don't feed as adults.
"When the wings are opened, they appear yellow with brown, purple, and red blotches.
When the wings are closed, the color remains the same, the spots partially visible. The male and female imperial moths are a little different from one another regarding color patterns.
While the males are heavily marked with patches and spots, the female moths appear more yellow," the post continued.
The average wingspan is from eight to 17.5 cm.
The piece listed the moth's season in the north as from June to August.
The moth sightings weren't limited to just the woods. On June 21, I found a Polyphemus moth at work in Sandycreek Township. According to a post on a-z-animals.com, these adult silk moths only live "about four days or less than a week. Its mouth is vestigial, and its only purpose is to reproduce."
The post also presented a very interesting fact about the moth.
"Male Polyphemus moths can only fly if the temperature is warmer than 44.6 degrees Fahrenheit," the post said.
I convinced this moth to move outside since no one should have to live out the rest of their life on a factory floor.
The post also presented a very interesting fact about the moth.
"Male Polyphemus moths can only fly if the temperature is warmer than 44.6 degrees Fahrenheit," the post said.
I convinced this moth to move outside since no one should have to live out the rest of their life on a factory floor.
Meanwhile, hummingbird moths unlike silk moths do feed. Mostly on nectar.
A post on www.hummingbirdsplus.org said, "... the lifespan of hummingbird moths is much shorter. The longest living moths live up to seven months whereas some of the species live as little as three to five weeks."
A post on www.hummingbirdsplus.org said, "... the lifespan of hummingbird moths is much shorter. The longest living moths live up to seven months whereas some of the species live as little as three to five weeks."
Meanwhile in my digging, I was surprised to learn that the lifespan of butterflies wasn't that long either.
I had previously thought the butterflies I saw were here all summer.
A post at www.forestwildlife.org, countered my thoughts.
"Butterflies have fairly short lifespans, much like other insects. Tiger swallowtails live for about 2 months in total, from egg to adult butterfly," the post said.
"These butterflies have various stages of life. They exist in the egg stage for about 5 to 10 days; the caterpillar stage for 3 to 4 weeks; the pupal stage for 10 to 20 days (or several months when overwintering); and the butterfly stage for anywhere from 6 to 14 days," the post continued.
I had previously thought the butterflies I saw were here all summer.
A post at www.forestwildlife.org, countered my thoughts.
"Butterflies have fairly short lifespans, much like other insects. Tiger swallowtails live for about 2 months in total, from egg to adult butterfly," the post said.
"These butterflies have various stages of life. They exist in the egg stage for about 5 to 10 days; the caterpillar stage for 3 to 4 weeks; the pupal stage for 10 to 20 days (or several months when overwintering); and the butterfly stage for anywhere from 6 to 14 days," the post continued.
"Butterflies have a very similar life cycle to the moth. They hatch from their eggs, go through multiple instars as they outgrow their caterpillar form, and eventually form cocoons.
After they emerge from their cocoon, they must dry out their wings for a few hours.
This makes them identical to moths in just about every way," said different post on a-z-animals.com.
The post explained, "However, depending on the species of butterfly, most butterflies only live an average of a week to a month. Moths seem to have a longer life span in some respects, but it all comes down to the species and what they go through."
After they emerge from their cocoon, they must dry out their wings for a few hours.
This makes them identical to moths in just about every way," said different post on a-z-animals.com.
The post explained, "However, depending on the species of butterfly, most butterflies only live an average of a week to a month. Moths seem to have a longer life span in some respects, but it all comes down to the species and what they go through."
I additionally looked up the lifespan of dragonflies. Many sources said their lifespan is about six months.
"This however is not true as when you investigate how long do dragonflies live, the shortest the life cycle of a dragonfly from egg to the death of the adult is about six months," said a post on www.learnaboutnature.com.
"There are even dragonflies that live for several years as aquatic larvae before they emerge and live for a few months as adults. Most dragonflies don’t die of old age but are caught by predators. Even if they do survive, they still don’t live much longer than a few months," the post continued.
The post added that dragonflies "... will spend only a very short part of their life span as actual adult dragonflies. They will live as nymphs for up to four years, molting their skin between eight to 17 times depending on the species, and finally when they mature into adults, they can only live for a few months."
"This however is not true as when you investigate how long do dragonflies live, the shortest the life cycle of a dragonfly from egg to the death of the adult is about six months," said a post on www.learnaboutnature.com.
"There are even dragonflies that live for several years as aquatic larvae before they emerge and live for a few months as adults. Most dragonflies don’t die of old age but are caught by predators. Even if they do survive, they still don’t live much longer than a few months," the post continued.
The post added that dragonflies "... will spend only a very short part of their life span as actual adult dragonflies. They will live as nymphs for up to four years, molting their skin between eight to 17 times depending on the species, and finally when they mature into adults, they can only live for a few months."
Meanwhile in the plant world, lifespan are possibly a little longer.
While the lady slipper blooms may be done for this year, the actual plant can live for years.
"Pink lady’s slipper takes many years to go from seed to mature plants.
Seed-bearing harvest of wild lady's slipper root is not considered sustainable.
Pink lady's slippers can live to be twenty years old or more," according to a post on www.fs.usda.gov.
Short or long, life is what you make of it. That's just the nature of things 'round here.
While the lady slipper blooms may be done for this year, the actual plant can live for years.
"Pink lady’s slipper takes many years to go from seed to mature plants.
Seed-bearing harvest of wild lady's slipper root is not considered sustainable.
Pink lady's slippers can live to be twenty years old or more," according to a post on www.fs.usda.gov.
Short or long, life is what you make of it. That's just the nature of things 'round here.
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