Polyphemus Moth - Antheraea polyphemus
Order: Lepidoptera / Superfamily: Bombycoidea / Family: Saturniidae - Giant silkmoths / Subfamily: Saturniinae / Tribe: Saturniini
Live adult moths and caterpillars photographed at Winfield, Illinois, USA and Kapuskasing, Ontario, Canada.
 

Polyphemus Moth Adult
This polyphemus moth adult was photographed in the wild at Kapuskasing, Ontario, Canada.
Photo: © Evelyne Bélanger, used with permission

Camera location 49.414324° N, 82.42527° W Google Maps - Live Maps - Trails.com - TerraServer-USA

Polyphemus Caterpillar
Polyphemus Caterpillar

 
 
 

Polyphemus Moth Caterpillar legs

polyphemus moth caterpillar
Business end of an extremely efficient foliage devourer. They eat an entire leaf, then cut the petiole. This strategy keeps birds from seeing where they feed.

This giant silkmoth gets its name from the large eyespots on its hindwings, referring to Polyphemus, the Cyclops of Greek mythology, who captured (and was eventually blinded by) Odysseus in Homer's epic poem, The Odyssey.

Polyphemus moth adults, like others in the Saturniidae family, do not feed. Silkmoths use pheromones to locate each other when seeking mates.
"The life cycle of the moth is much like any other saturniidae species. It lays flat, light brown eggs on the leaves of a number of host plants, including:

When the eggs hatch, small yellow caterpillars emerge. As the caterpillars age, they molt 5 times (the 5th being into a pupa). Each instar is slightly different, but on their sixth and final instar they become a bright green color, with silver spots on their side. They feed heavily on their host plant and can grow up to 3-4 inches long. They then spin cocoons of brown silk, usually wrapped in leaves of the host plant. There are generally two broods throughout the United States, one that hatches in early spring and one that hatches in late summer. The moths eclose and then must pump their wings with fluid (hemolymph) to extend them. The females emit pheromones, which the male can detect through its large, plumose antennae. Males can fly for miles in order to reach a female. After the moths mate, the female spends the majority of the remainder of her life laying eggs, while the male may mate several more times. Adults of this family of moths have vestigal mouths, meaning their mouthparts have been reduced. Because of this, they do not eat and only live as adults for less than one week." -- from Wikipedia
My son and I found this giant silkmoth bumping against the lights outside our local 7-11 store. Naturally, it was confused and stunned itself several times during collisions with plate-glass windows; we carried it to a dark area and successfully released it into the night. What a thrill to see & hold such a gigantic insect ! The polyphemus moth caterpillar (larval form)  was photographed at Winfield, IL. August 24, 2002.

This giant silkmoth gets its name from the large eyespots on its hindwings, referring to Polyphemus, the Cyclops of Greek mythology, who captured (and was eventually blinded by) Odysseus in Homer's epic poem, The Odyssey. Polyphemus moth adults, like others in the Saturniidae family, do not feed. Silkmoths use pheromones to locate each other when seeking mates.


"The life cycle of the moth is much like any other saturniidae species. It lays flat, light brown eggs on the leaves of a number of host plants, including:

When the eggs hatch, small yellow caterpillars emerge. As the caterpillars age, they molt 5 times. Each instar is slightly different, but on their sixth and final instar they become a bright green color, with silver spots on their side. They feed heavily on their host plant and can grow up to 3-4 inches long. They then spin cocoons of brown silk, usually wrapped in leaves of the host plant. There are generally two broods throughout the United States, one that hatches in early spring and one that hatches in late summer. The moths eclose and then must pump their wings with fluid (hemolymph) to extend them. The females emit pheromones, which the male can detect through its large, plumose antennae. Males can fly for miles in order to reach a female. After the moths mate, the female spends the majority of the remainder of her life laying eggs, while the male may mate several more times. Adults of this family of moths have vestigal mouths, meaning their mouthparts have been reduced. Because of this, they do not eat and only live as adults for less than one week." -- from Wikipedia

 
 
 
              
 
       web       www.cirrusimage.com