Tattoo’d Luna Pendant

I created this luna moth pendant, thinking about how these beautiful creatures emerge in the spring with the sole purpose of reproducing. In this form they only live for 10 days. Found only in North America, they spend most of their lives as larva. When newly hatched, the caterpillar constantly munches on the leaves of walnut, hickory, sweet gum, and paper birch trees. After about a month of filling up on these plants, the caterpillar builds a cocoon. The insect lives inside for about three weeks, then emerges as a moth. I’m conscious of creatures like these because they are swiftly losing habitat. Especially in our area. Developers are gobbling up forest and there’s nowhere for their little babies to live in leaf duff, munching away.  This homage I created was sawn out of sterling silver. Among the stamped patterns on the moth are leaves, echoing its past. Dangling from the base is a rose cut, pale green prehnite almost the color of seawater. It hangs from an 18 inch silver rolo style chain. It is a large pendant hanging about 2 and a 1/2 inches long.