Polyphemus Moth

Descrizione

Antheraea polyphemus, the Polyphemus moth, 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 in). The most notable feature of the moth is its large, purplish eyespots on its two hindwings. The eyespots give it its name – from the Greek myth of the cyclops Polyphemus. The species was first described by Pieter Cramer in 1776. The species is widespread in continental North America, with local populations found throughout subarctic Canada and the United States. In the United States, this species can be found in all states except for Arizona and Nevada. The Polyphemus moths inhabit deciduous hardwood forests, orchards, urban areas, and wetlands. The caterpillar can eat 86,000 times its weight at emergence in a little less than two months or about 56 days. Polyphemus moths are considered to be very polyphagous, meaning they eat from a wide variety of plants.