Polyphemus Moth

Polyphemus Moth

Anaatheraea polyphemus
GIANT SILKWORM AND ROYAL MOTH FAMILY (Saturniidae)

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The Polyphemus Moth has a wingspan of 4 to 6 inches. Females are larger than males. The forewing is brown with a small round eyespot near the middle of the wing. There is a large, elliptical yellow eyespot surrounded by blue and black near the middle of the hindwing. The caterpillar has a large, bright green body with red and silvery spots below the setae, and obllique yellow lines running through spiracles on the abdomen. There is a diagonal black and silver streak on the 9th abdominal segment. The head is brown. There is a yellow ring tipped with black at the end of the prolegs. It grows up to 4 inches in length.

 

An adult was photographed in early June 2017 in Fontenelle Forest. The species ranges across the U.S. and is found in deciduous forests, orchards and some wetlands. In this area adults fly from May to July. The caterpillars are seen mostly in the fall when they are looking for a place to pupate. They have been photographed in Fontenelle Forest in late September and early October. Adults visit lights. The species overwinters as a pupa.

 

Larvae feed on leaves of many broad-leaved trees and shrubs, including apple, ash, dogwood, grape, hickory, maple, oak, rose and willow. Adults do not feed.

 

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