Polyphemus moth
Antheraea polyphemus, adult male
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 North American member of the family Saturniidae, the giant silk moths.^[1] 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. It is widespread throughout much of North America, from southern Canada to parts of Mexico.

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)

Antheraea Polyphemus Caterpillar, early November, in Virginia, USA

has a purple mouth

When the eggs hatch small yellow caterpillars emerge. As the caterpillars age, they molt 5 times (the 5th being into a pupa). Each instar is slightly different, but on their fifth 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 mouth parts have been reduced. Because of this, they do not eat and only live as adults for less than one week.

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.

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

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.

Response to Threats

The Polyphemus moth uses defence mechanisms to protect itself from predators. One of its most distinctive mechanisms is a distraction pattern that serves to confuse, or simply distract, predators. This involves the large eyespots on its hindwings, which give the Polyphemus its name (from the Cyclops Polyphemus in Greek mythology). Eyespots are also startle patterns, a subform of distraction patterns, used for camouflage via deceptive and blending coloration. Most startle patterns are brightly colored areas on the outer body of already camouflaged animals. (Another example of the use of startle patterns is the gray tree frog, with its bright yellow leggings. When it leaps, a flash of bright yellow appears on its hindlegs, usually startling the predator away from its prey.) It is believed that distraction patterns are a form of mimicry, meant to misdirect predators by markings on the moths' wings.

External links

• Polyphemus moth adult and caterpillar large format photographs
• Picture journal of polyphemus developments
• How to rear Saturniid moths
• The Polyphemus moth

References

Brands, S. J.. "Antheraea polyphemus". Systema Naturae 2000. Retrieved on September 30, 2005.

1. Polyphemus Moth

Source: adapted by the editor from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia; from the article "Antheraea polyphemus". Image Credit.

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