Antheraea polyphemus, commonly known as the Polyphemus moth, is a member of the Saturniidae family, the Giant silk moths. This impressive moth is native to North America and is widely admired for its large size, stunning wing patterns, and fascinating life cycle. The species is named after Polyphemus, the one-eyed giant from Greek mythology, in reference to the prominent eyespot on each hindwing.
The Polyphemus moth has a wingspan of around 15 cm. Its wings are tan or reddish-brown, with delicate markings and two large, eyelike spots on the hindwings. The spots are surrounded by shades of yellow, black, and blue, serving as a defense mechanism to startle or deter predators, such as birds.
The moth’s lifecycle begins when females lay eggs on the leaves of host plants, including oak, birch, maple, and willow. The caterpillars are bright green and grow to a considerable size, feeding voraciously on the foliage before spinning a silken cocoon to pupate. The adult moth does not have functional mouthparts and lives for only about a week, relying solely on energy reserves accumulated during its larval stage. Its sole purpose as an adult is reproduction.
Difficulty - Easy (1/10)
Host plants - Oak; Birch; Willow; Alder; Walnut; Maple; Hawthorn; Plum; Cherry; undoubtedly others.
Temperature - Room temperature or outdoors.
Lifecycle - Two broods annually with cocoons overwintering.
