Polyphemus Moth
Antheraea polyphemus
29.7589, -95.3677
Field Notes
Description:
found this guy last night.
The Polyphemus Moth (Antheraea polyphemus) is a North American member of the family Saturniidae, the giant silk moths. It is a tan colored moth, with an average wingspan of 15 cm (6 inches). The most notable feature of the moth is its large, purplish eyespots on its two hindwings. The eye spots are where it gets its name – from the Greek myth of the Cyclops Polyphemus. The caterpillar of the Polyphemus Moth can eat 86,000 times its weight at emergence in a little less than two months. It is widespread throughout much of North America, from southern Canada to parts of Mexico.
Differentiating between sexes of this species is very easy. The most obvious difference is the plumose antennae. Males will have very bushy antennae while females will have moderately less bushy antennae. The male's bushy antennae are used to detect pheromones released by unmated females. Another difference is that the females will be slightly larger in the abdomen due to carrying eggs. There is a surprising amount of variation within this species. Color patterns can range from a reddish-cinnamon to a dark brown but are almost always a shade of brown.
Notes:
Pests of the moths have become a huge problem. Parasitic insects such as some species of wasps and flies lay their eggs in or on the young caterpillars. The eggs then hatch into larvae which consume the insides of the caterpillars. Once the caterpillars pupate, the larvae themselves pupate, killing the Polyphemus pupa. Squirrels have also been known to consume the pupae of Polyphemus Moths, decreasing the population greatly. Pruning of trees and leaving outdoor lights on at night can also be detrimental to the Polyphemus Moths.
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