The Imperial Moth

I spotted this impressive creature outside the dining room window on August 7th. This beauty is similar to the Luna moth in life cycle: one of the host plants is the Sweet Gum tree, when they have wings their sole purpose is to mate, they don't have mouths for food. Dave's Garden has more information. I was lucky to see this moth as they are night flyers. He chose to remain on the white siding all afternoon. The moth left in the later hours of nightfall. We had an evening rain storm which kept him in place for awhile. Just wonderful! Another good reason not to use pesticides.