ArielSD
Antheraea Polyphemus
My Daily Trek: 8/22/08:
I came cross this moth today sitting in my neighbor's driveway. I wasn't sure what it was. He was sitting with his wings together and from the front his bushy antenna almost looked like a mustache! I sat on the concrete and started taking some pictures, and he flew into a nearby tree. I have never seen this species before. On the tree I was able to capture the beautiful detail of his wings. Once I got back to my computer and did some research I discovered he was indeed a male based on his bushy antenna! More info from my research below.
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 6 inches (15 cm). 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. Adults of this family of moths have vestigial mouths, meaning their mouth parts have been reduced. Because of this, they do not eat and only live as adults for less than one week.
Antheraea Polyphemus
My Daily Trek: 8/22/08:
I came cross this moth today sitting in my neighbor's driveway. I wasn't sure what it was. He was sitting with his wings together and from the front his bushy antenna almost looked like a mustache! I sat on the concrete and started taking some pictures, and he flew into a nearby tree. I have never seen this species before. On the tree I was able to capture the beautiful detail of his wings. Once I got back to my computer and did some research I discovered he was indeed a male based on his bushy antenna! More info from my research below.
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 6 inches (15 cm). 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. Adults of this family of moths have vestigial mouths, meaning their mouth parts have been reduced. Because of this, they do not eat and only live as adults for less than one week.