The BBC's Brian Barron reports on Manhattan's moth watchers

The luminous, pale green luna moths were released into the Manhattan park as part of a costly campaign to bring wildlife back to the city.

Environmentalists hope the insects, with an average four-inch wing span, will breed before their two-week life span ends.

The moths have a 50% chance of survival

The moths vanished from New York City in the 1940s after they became victims to pesticides and intense urban development.

The BBC's New York Correspondent says that despite being the "jumbo jets of the insect world", the moths are vulnerable because of their size.

"They will be food for some animals," said Central Park ranger, Bram Gunther. "However, they fly at night - there are less predators in the air at night, and they are very well concealed during the day.

But some scientists believe that New York's Parks Department is selecting the wrong species, which will have a poor chance of survival.

"The luna moth is a beautiful animal I think that's why it has been selected for New York City," said ecologist Dr Steven Handel.

"But I have my concerns - for example this is a species which happens to put its cocoon on the ground and these cocoons can be eaten by enemies over the winter."

Central Park's next resident - the screech owl

The moths are just one of a number of insects, animals and plants the city's Parks Department hopes to reintroduce this year.

Plans to release a squadron of screech owls are proving just as controversial because the birds feed on sparrows, many of which live in Central Park.