Polyphemus Moth
Anthera
polyphemus
Dan Mackinnon
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The Polyphemus Moth is
one of our biggest moths, growing up to a 5 1/2 inch
wingspan. It has brownish-yellow wings with a black and
white, wavy line on each. It has a small, mostly yellow
eyespot on each forewing (front wings), and larger blue,
black, and yellow eyespots on the hindwings. Underneath, the
moths' wings look like dead leaves.
Polyphemus Moths are
usually found in forests, but can also be seen in
marshes
and parks.
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Copyright 2001, Terry
Carr
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Lacy L. Hyche,
Auburn University
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Polyphemus moths
leave their cocoons
in the afternoon in early May. Neither the male or
female adult
moths eat; in fact, they don't even have
mouthparts!
As soon as she
has fully emerged and rested (later that night),
the female begins releasing a type of scent calle
"pheremones." Male moths detect the scent from far
away and come to mate with her.
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David
Wilbur
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Lacy L. Hyche,
Auburn University
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The Provincial Museum of
Alberta
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After mating, the female
lays 3 to 5 eggs on the underside of a leaf.
When caterpillars
hatch from their eggs,
they first eat their own eggshells, then start working on
leaves. Eggs are always laid on the right kinds of leaves,
so caterpillars don't have to look for food.
Caterpillars are bright
green with yellow stripes and red and silver spots. They
also have a brown "v" on their rears. They grow up to 3 1/2
inches long.
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Copyright, Bob
Jensen
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Ronald F.
Billings, Texas Forest Service
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Host
plants of Polyphemus caterpillars include many
trees
and shrubs,
such as: oaks, maples, pines, birches, American
Hornbeam, hawthorns, American Beech, ash, Witch
Hazel, Black Walnut, Yellow Poplar, Black Cherry,
Quaking Aspen, Elderberry, alders, Sassafras,
blueberries, grapes, willows, hickories, elms,
chestnuts, and American Sycamore.
Caterpillars are
vulnerable to predators,
including birds, small mammals, and predatory
insects. There is also a type of wasp which is a
parasite
of caterpillars. The wasp injects eggs into the
caterpillar. Then the wasp larvae
hatch and feed on the caterpillar's body. When they
are ready, each wasp forms a cocoon on the outside
of the caterpillar.
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