Antheraea polyphemus

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Polyphemus moth

Antheraea polyphemus, adult female

Scientific classification

Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
Family:	Saturniidae
Genus:	Antheraea
Species:	A. polyphemus

Binomial name

Antheraea polyphemus
Cramer, 1776

The Polyphemus moth (Antheraea polyphemus) is a member of the Saturniidae family, or 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 it's weight at emergence in a little less than two months.

1 Life cycle
2 Sexual dimorphism
3 Pictures
4 Threats
5 External links
6 References

[edit] Life cycle

The life cycle of the moth is much like that of any other saturniidae species. It lays flat, light brown eggs on the leaves of a number of host plants, including:

Betula, (birch)
Salix, (willow)
Quercus, (oak)
Acer, (maple)
Carya, (hickory)
Fagus, (beech)
Gleditsia triacanthos, (honey locust)
Juglans, (walnut)
Pyrus, (pear and quince)
Prunus, (plum, peach, apricot, cherry, etc.)
Sassafras
Citrus, (orange, grapefruits, lemons, limes, etc.)
Ulmus americana, (American elm)

When the eggs hatch small yellow caterpillars emerge. As the caterpillars age, they molt 5 times. Each instar is slightly different, but on their sixth and final instar they become a bright green color with silver spots on their side. They feed heavily on their host plant and can grow up to 3-4 inches long. They then spin cocoons of brown silk, usually wrapped in leaves of the host plant. There are generally two broods throughout the United States, one that hatches in early spring and one that hatches in late summer. The moths eclose and then must pump their wings with fluid (hemolymph) to extend them. The females emit pheromones, which the male can detect through its large, plumose antennae. Males can fly for miles in order to reach a female. After the moths mate, the female spends the majority of the remainder of her life laying eggs, while the male may mate several more times. Adults of this family of moths have vestigial mouths, meaning their mouthparts have been reduced. Because of this, they do not eat and only live as adults for less than one week.

[edit] Sexual dimorphism

Differentiating between sexes of this species is very easy. The most obvious difference is the plumose antennae. Males will have a very bushy antenna while females will have a moderately less bushy antenna. Another difference is that the females will be slightly larger in the abdomen due to carrying eggs. There is a surprising amount of variation within this species. Color patterns can range from a reddish-cinnamon to a dark brown but are almost always a shade of brown.

[edit] Pictures

Polyphemus eggs	1st instar caterpillar. Reared on Post Oak.	1st instar caterpillar. Reared on Post Oak.	Polyphemus caterpillar
Polyphemus moth adult female	Polyphemus moth adult male	Polyphemus moth adult variation	Polyphemus moth adult female
Polyphemus moth adults mating

[edit] Threats

Pests of the moths have become a huge problem. Parasitic insects such as some species of wasps and flies lay their eggs in or on the young caterpillars. The eggs then hatch into larvae which consume the insides of the caterpillars. Once the caterpillars pupate, the larvae themselves pupate, killing the polyphemus pupa. Squirrels have also been known to consume the pupae of polyphemus moths, decreasing the population greatly. Pruning of trees and leaving outdoor lights on at night can also be detrimental to the polyphemus moths. Polyphemus moths are located from coast to coast in the US and are found throughout most of Canada.