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Polyphemus Moth

Antheraea polyphemus

Photo by BrianRutter
Published on Project Noah
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39.167, -86.5343

Field Notes

Description:

This giant silk moth gets its name from the eye-like spots on its wings. It has two large eye spots, one on each hindwing. Polyphemus was a cyclops from Greek myth. A cyclops, as anyone will tell you, has only one eye. We therefore presume that whoever named this moth was only vaguely familiar with Greek mythology, had difficulty counting or else suffered from crossed eyes.

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (2)

I only wish I could have seen those famous eye spots :(
Photographed
PublishedAugust 19, 2013

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