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Luminary Oddities · Natural history & art
Actias selene
Lepidoptera / Saturniidae
Actias selene is an Asian moon moth with pale emerald wings, crescent-marked eyespots and long hindwing tails. A two-year rearing study in Nagaland documented three annual generations and prolonged winter pupal dormancy.
Read the species account
The Moths of Borneo account describes both sexes as pale emerald green. Compared with A. maenas, A. selene is smaller, has shorter hindwing tails and faint yellow rather than brownish transverse markings. Its forewing eyespot has the dark crescent on the side nearest the wing base. [1]
Rearing in Nagaland covered March–May, July–August and October–December over two consecutive years. Three annual generations occurred under those local climatic conditions; winter pupal dormancy averaged approximately 98 days. [3]
In the Nagaland rearing series, young larvae changed from chocolate brown to orange-brown. Later instars became green; mature fifth-instar larvae turned yellowish-green before spinning cocoons among leaves. [3]
The Hong Kong Biodiversity Museum describes the adults as nocturnal and explains how female chemical signals attract males. [2]
In the Nagaland rearing study, cocoon colour differed with the host plant. Larvae fed Rhus javanica produced greyish-brown cocoons, whereas those fed Alnus nepalensis produced dull-white to pale-cream cocoons. [3]
Selene is the lunar goddess of Greek mythology, the association reflected in the Indian moon moth’s name. [2]
The long hindwing tails, pale green wing fields and crescent-marked eyespots are useful features in a spread-wing view. The position of the forewing eyespot’s dark crescent is part of the published comparison with A. maenas. [1]
The composition titled “The Universe” uses the moon moth’s long tails and pale wings as a basis for celestial imagery.
Keep the enclosure closed and display it in indirect light, away from heat and damp conditions. Handle the frame by its edges and clean only its exterior according to the maker’s instructions.
Which plants supported the Nagaland caterpillars? The rearing study used Alnus nepalensis and Rhus javanica. [3]
Does the adult feed? The adult is nonfeeding and uses resources stored during larval development. [2]
How many generations were observed? Three annual generations were documented in the Nagaland rearing study. [3]
The regional moth account describes adult characters and historical taxonomic treatments. The Nagaland paper documents rearing, hosts and seasonal development; the Hong Kong Biodiversity Museum provides an adult natural-history account. [1][3][2]
Moths of Borneo · Accessed 2026-10-09
Hong Kong Biodiversity Museum · Accessed 2026-10-09
Chutia, Kakati and Hirowatari; Lepidoptera Science 61(3):228–239 (2010) · Accessed 2026-10-09
Barber et al., Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences · Accessed 2026-10-09
Framed and digital artworks featuring this species. Current options and prices are listed on Etsy.
Sources checked 2026-10-09. Illustrations · Luminary Oddities.
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