Polyphemus moths are so named for the large eyespots on their wings. They are named after the Greek myth of the Cyclops, Polyphemus.
When ready to mate, female polyphemus moths emit pheromones that attract males. Males use their sense of smell and touch to find females. Although larvae (caterpillars) have eyes, they are small and primitive, resulting in poor vision.
Communication Channels: tactile ; chemical
Other Communication Modes: pheromones
Perception Channels: visual ; tactile ; chemical
Polyphemus moths have not been evaluated or are not considered threatened by the IUCN, US Fish and Wildlife Service or CITES.
US Federal List: no special status
CITES: no special status
State of Michigan List: no special status
After about 10 days, tiny polyphemus moth caterpillars hatch from eggs. Larvae (caterpillars) molt 5 times and grow to their full size in 5 to 6 weeks. When caterpillars are fully grown, they wrap themselves in a leaf and build a cocoon out of silk. Cocoons are oval in shape, 40 mm in length and 22 to 24 mm in diameter. While in a cocoon, a caterpillar develops into a pupa and then emerges as an adult moth in about 2 weeks. Polyphemus moths can also overwinter in their cocoons, which increases time as pupae.
Development - Life Cycle: metamorphosis
Polyphemus moth caterpillars are occasionally considered pests to plum orchards in California.
Negative Impacts: crop pest
There are no known direct positive effects of polyphemus moths on humans, though many are hand-raised by curious individuals.
Polyphemus moths act as prey for certain insects, raccoons, and squirrels. They are also parasitized by some wasps. Because they consume a large quantity of leaves, they may also considerably contribute to nutrient cycling.
Commensal/Parasitic Species:
Caterpillars feed on leaves of broad-leaved trees and shrubs such as sweetgum (Liquidambar), birch (Betula), grape (Vitis), hickory (Carya), maple (Acer), oak (Quercus), willow (Salix), and members of the rose family (Rosaceae). Larvae also eat their egg shells after hatching and their freshly molted skin. A caterpillar eats 86,000 times its body weight. Adult moths have a reduced mouth and do not eat.
Plant Foods: leaves
Primary Diet: herbivore (Folivore )
Polyphemus moths, Antheraea polyphemus, can be found in all of the continental United States except Arizona and Nevada and in every Canadian province except Newfoundland and Prince Edward Island.
Biogeographic Regions: nearctic (Native )
Polyphemus moths inhabit deciduous hardwood forests, urban areas, orchards, and wetlands.
Habitat Regions: temperate
Terrestrial Biomes: forest
Wetlands: marsh ; swamp ; bog
Other Habitat Features: urban ; suburban ; agricultural ; estuarine
As adults (moths), polyphemus moths live a maximum of only 4 days. Their entire life cycle averages about 3 months in length. This includes about 10 days as eggs, 5 to 6 weeks as larvae, 2 weeks as pupa, and about 4 days as adults. If they overwinter as pupa, this life cycle increases in length.
Average lifespan
Status: wild: 3 months.
Average lifespan
Status: captivity: 3 months.
Polythemus moths, as caterpillars, are bright green with a reddish brown head. They have 6 orange tubercles and bristles on each segment of their body. Each abdomen segment has a slanted yellow line that is purple-brown in color. Caterpillars can grow to about 7 cm in length.
As adults, members of this species are large moths. Polythemus moths have a hairy body, and adults can vary from red-brown to dark brown in color. Each hind wing has a large yellow “eyespot” lined with blue and black. The center of this eyespot is uniquely transparent. The front wings have a smaller yellow spot. The margin of both the front and hind wings has a black and white stripe. Wingspan ranges from 10 to 15 cm. Whereas adult males have bushy antennae for detecting pheromones, females have slender antennae.
Polyphemus moth caterpillars greatly resemble caterpillars of luna moths. While polyphemus moths have single horizontal lines along each side of the body, luna moths have vertical yellow lines on each segment.
Range length: caterpillar 7 (high) cm.
Range wingspan: 10 to 15 cm.
Sexual Dimorphism: sexes alike
Other Physical Features: ectothermic ; bilateral symmetry
Polyphemus moth caterpillars are preyed upon by yellowjackets and ants. They are also parasitized by wasps. Larvae and pupae are consumed by raccoons and squirrels. The green coloration of caterpillars makes them difficult to spot. Adults also practice mimicry; they have eyespots on their hind wings.
Known Predators:
Anti-predator Adaptations: cryptic
Popyphemus moths mate the same day that they emerge from their cocoons, and mating usually occurs during late afternoon. Females emit pheromones, which can be detected up to a mile away, to attract mates. Mating of saturniids can last from less than an hour to many hours. Females lay their eggs shortly after mating. If unsuccessful in recruiting a male after 2 or 3 days, females stop calling and release their unfertilized eggs.
Mating System: polygynous
Female polyphemus moths begin to emerge and mate during early spring. Females lay up to 5 eggs singly or in groups of 2 or 3 on the underside of tree leaves. Eggs are flat and round, cream to light tan in color on top with a brown outline, and are about 1.25 mm thick and 3 mm in diameter. In most regions, 2 broods of polyphemus moths hatch per year; one hatches in early spring and the other in late summer. However, in the northernmost part of their range, only one brood hatches per year. In the southern part of their range, many broods may hatch each year.
Breeding interval: Polyphemus moths breed once in their lifetime.
Breeding season: Polyphemus moths breed in early spring or summer.
Range eggs per season: 1 to 5.
Key Reproductive Features: seasonal breeding ; gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate); sexual ; fertilization (Internal ); oviparous
Female polyphemus moths usually lay their eggs on leaves that are a good food source for the caterpillars. They are not otherwise involved in the rearing of their offspring.
Parental Investment: no parental involvement
