what is this - a moth, butterfly?

<p>Caught this on the stucco of my house in New Jersey. Would have been totally camouflaged if on a tree or plant. When I first saw it before trying to get it to fly, the wings were down making it look even more like a leaf. Anyone know what this is?</p>

<p>Here's pic.</p>

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<p>Wing span is about 3".</p>

<p>Looks to be a luna moth. I think the antennae help give it away as a moth.</p>

<p>Fascinating lifecycle fact on the luna - flies only at night and adult moth lives for only a week with the sole purpose being mating.<br>

Responses don't seem to be posting, so I apologize if this comes up multiple times once it posts. </p>

<p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=atOSro3_W7c">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=atOSro3_W7c</a></p>

<p>Cool find Alan, even on the side of the house. I spend a lot of time in the woods and I've only seen a couple of these. Latin name is <em>Actias luna.</em></p>

<p>Luna moth. Lovely critters. Last time I saw one was on the wood siding of our rural home on the far east end of Long Island, when I was a teenager, probably around 1972 or so. All I had in the camera was Tri-X. One of those photo opportunities I regret missing.</p>

<p>Apart from the antennae, an easy way to tell the difference between moths and butterflies is by how they hold their wings when not flying. Butterflies hold them together above them, moths hold them, well, like moths. </p>

<p>Thanks everyone for the input. Oh, I didn't discover it. Actually the cleaners was delivering my clothes and he spotted it right outside the front door. Getting the shot - advantage cell phone. </p>

<p>It looks like a green kite!</p>