Western Glacier Stonefly vs Luna Moth

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Western Glacier Stonefly Luna Moth
Scientific Name Zapada glacier Actias luna
Order Plecoptera Lepidoptera
Family Nemouridae Saturniidae
Size 5-8 mm body length 80-115 mm wingspan
Habitat Mountains Woodlands
Diet Omnivores Omnivores
Regions Glacier National Park, Montana North America
Conservation Endangered Least Concern

Western Glacier Stonefly

A cold-specialist stonefly found only in glacier-fed streams in Glacier National Park. It is threatened by the retreat of mountain glaciers.

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Did You Know?

It may become one of the first insects driven to extinction by climate change as glaciers disappear.

Luna Moth

A stunning lime-green moth with long trailing hindwing tails. Adults live only about one week. The long tails confuse bat echolocation by creating false echoes.

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Did You Know?

The luna moths long tail streamers confuse bat sonar — they spin behind the moth creating acoustic illusions that cause bats to miss their target 47% of the time.