'Endangered' Luna Moths

[Kenelm Philip]

	Richard Molay informs me that it's the Audubon Society Field Guide
to North American Insects & Spiders that makes the astounding statement
that the Luna Moth is 'now considered an endangered species' (publication
date 1980). I checked directly with Charlie Covell, whose (1984) field
guide to eastern NA moths calls the species common--and he informs me it
is still relatively common throughout its range in undisturbed primary
and secondary forests. I think this translates into a drop in population
levels in heavily populated areas, but no concern for the species as a
whole.
                                                                                
	For people who always believe what they read in books, this
situation creates a problem. Since the Luna Moth is not on the endangered
species list, and is not, in 1984 or 1997, endangered according to a moth
specialist who should know what's going on, I think the Milnes made a
mistake when they 'considered' it endangered in 1980.

							Ken Philip
fnkwp at aurora.alaska.edu