Community Corner

Essex Photo of the Day: Luna Moth

Essex Patch presents its Photo of the Day.

Bowleys Quarters resident Barbara Newman wrote in to say how much she and her husband, Fred, enjoy the pictures readers submit for this feature.

In her email, she included her own contribution— this picture of a luna moth that was resting at the base of a young sweetgum tree in the couple's yard.

Newman said the luna moth, which she referred to as "one of the largest and most dramatic moths in North America," lives for only seven days, during which its sole purpose is to reproduce.

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"Although she is a common North American moth, this sighting is a real treat, since this moth is rarely seen and especially during daylight, mostly due to its very short lifespan," Newman said in the email. "While in caterpillar stage, they enjoy consuming sweetgum and tomato plants (which you cannot see in this photo), so she has found a wonderful spot to live."

For more information about the luna moth, watch the YouTube video added to Newman's photo.

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View other Essex Patch photos of the day here.

Do you have a photo you'd like featured as the Essex Patch Photo of the Day? Send it to marge.neal@patch.com.

While it seems there are many birdwatchers in Essex, photos can be pretty much of anything (keeping in mind this is a family-oriented publication, of course!). School performances, award presentations, flower and vegetable gardens, town scenery, architecture, people, dogs, cats—use your imagination!

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