With so many eyespots, it seems obvious that the big Polyphemus Moth is a real looker.
This member of the Giant Silk Moth family is large and has a furry, brown body. Each brown forewing has a front border that is gray. The most remarkable feature besides is grand size would be its clear eyespots on the wings. An oval with a yellow ring with a dark center sits on each of the four wings. The hindwings' eyespots seem larger thanks to a black border and blue 'eyeshadow'. If startled, the moth opens and closes its wings, flashing all of its eyespots as a way to disorient a predator. The forewings have a curve along the bottom. A red and pink line crosses each forewing near the head. A black and pink band follows the bottom edge of all the wings, leaving a brown border. Antennae are brown and feathery.
The mammoth moths can be found in parks and deciduous forests in urban, suburban, and rural areas. Like most moths, they are nocturnal and attracted to lights. The caterpillar for this moth is multicolored. Its soft body are covered in thin black, yellow, and white rings. As it matures, it turns all white, retaining tiny black dots while growing four bristly spikes near its head. It eats a variety of plants and pupates on whatever plant it eats from.
Taxonomic Hierarchy
Kingdom:Animalia
Phylum:Arthropoda
Class:Insecta
Order:Lepidoptera
Family:Saturnidae
Genus:Antheraea
Species:polyphemus
Identifying Information
Scientific Name: Antheraea polyphemus
Category:
Butterfly or Moth
Size (Adult; Length): 75mm to 95mm (2.93in to 3.71in)
Note: An insect's reach is not limited by lines drawn on a map and therefore species may appear in areas, regions and/or states beyond those listed above as they are driven by environmental factors (such as climate change), available food supplies and mating patterns. Grayed-out selections indicate that the subject in question has not been reported in that particular territory. U.S. states and Canadian provinces / territories are clickable to their respective bug listings.
Butterfly and Moth Anatomy
1
Antennae: Butterflies and Moths have a pair of antennae on the head used as sensors.
2
Head: The head is home to the insect's eyes, antennae, and proboscis.
3
Thorax: Home to the three pairs of legs as well as vital internal organs.
4
Abdomen: Contains vital internal organs such as the heart(s) and reproduction facilities.
5
Forewing: The upper, forward wing pair used for flying.
6
Hindwing: The lower, rearward wing pair used for flying.
NOTE: Butterflies and Moths are part of the Lepidopteran order as they share many similarities.
Colors: brown; white; tan; yellow; black; blue; orange; pink; ivory
