Moths of North Carolina

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View PDF	Saturniidae Members:	Antheraea Members:	416 NC Records

Antheraea polyphemus (Cramer, 1776) - Polyphemus Moth

Taxonomy

Superfamily:
Bombycoidea

Family:
Saturniidae

Subfamily:
Saturniinae

Tribe:
Attacini

P3 Number:
890070

MONA Number:
7757.00

Other Common Name:
Polyphemus Silkmoth

Comments: The only member of its genus in the eastern United States (Antheraea oculea occurs in Arizona and New Mexico -- Tuskes et al., 1996)

Identification

Field Guide Descriptions: Covell (1984); Beadle and Leckie (2012)

Online Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLD

Technical Description, Adults: Forbes (1923), Ferguson (1972), Tuskes et al. (1996)

Technical Description, Immature Stages: Forbes (1923), Ferguson (1972), Covell (1984), Tuskes et al. (1996), Wagner (2005)

Adult Markings: Adults are unmistakable. With a wingspan of 4-6 inches, this is one of our largest native moths. Its yellowish-brown or tan color and large ellipical eyes-spots distinguish it from the similar-sized Cecropia Moth, which has red bands on its wings and body and has crescent-shaped discal spots.

Wingspan: 125 mm (Forbes, 1923)

Adult ID Requirements: Unmistakable and widely known.

Immatures and Development: The large green larvae are also quite distinctive. Although similar to those of the Luna Moth (Actias luna), they lack the lateral yellow stripe possessed by that species and have vertical yellow stripes located in the middle of the abdominal segments rather than in between (Ferguson, 1972, gives additional details). Cocoons are often encountered attached to trees or shrubs or fallen on the ground. Their thick ovoid shape is quite distinctive and can serve as the basis for site records for this species.

Larvae ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos, especially where associated with known host plants.

Distribution in North Carolina

Distribution: Occurs state-wide (Brimley, 1938)

County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.


Flight Dates: High Mountains (HM) ≥ 4,000 ft. Low Mountains (LM) < 4,000 ft. Piedmont (Pd) Coastal Plain (CP) Click on graph to enlarge
Immature Dates: High Mountains (HM) ≥ 4,000 ft. Low Mountains (LM) < 4,000 ft. Piedmont (Pd) Coastal Plain (CP) Click on graph to enlarge
Flight Comments: Appears to be single-brooded in the mountains but shows a distinctly bimodal flight pattern in the Coastal Plain and possibly the Piedmont.

Habitats and Life History

Habitats: Occurs in virtually all types of forests in the state, from maritime forests on the barrier islands (e.g., Fort Macon) to the high elevation forests of the mountains (e.g., Great Smoky Mountains National Park). It is also frequently encountered in wooded residential areas.

Larval Host Plants: Larvae feed on many species of hardwood trees and shrubs, but not on pines as has been previously reported (D. Schweitzer, pers. comm. to S. Hall). Brimley (1938) reported that it feeds primarily on elm and maple in North Carolina. Wagner (2005) stated that favored host plants include members of the birch, rose, and willow families (Wagner, 2005). Tuskes et al. (1996) also list oak as a favorite. Other commonly used host plants include ash, dogwood, hazel, and hickory (see Ferguson, 1972, for a more extensive list). In North Carolina, larvae have been recorded feeding on White Oak (Quercus alba), Cherrybark Oak (Q. pagoda), Willow Oak (Q. phellos), Northern Red Oak (Q. rubra), Red Maple (Acer rubrum), hickory (Carya), Winged Elm (Ulmus alata), Allegheny Chinquapin (Castanea pumila), American Hornbeam (Carpinus caroliniana), and Swamp Rose (Rosa palustris), and have found cocoons on a wide range of other plants. - View

Observation Methods: Comes well to 15 watt UV lights and also to incandescent light to some extent. Adults do not feed and consequently are not attracted by bait. Larvae can be detected in low trees and shrubs through their droppings. Cocoons can often be found attached to low trees and shrubs. Larvae are easy to rear in captivity (see Tuskes et al., 1996).

Wikipedia

See also Habitat Account for General Hardwood Forests

Status in North Carolina

Natural Heritage Program Status:

Natural Heritage Program Ranks: G5 SNR [S5]

State Protection: Has no legal protection, although permits are required to collect it on state parks and other public lands

Comments: Populations are locally vulnerable to the effects of weather, outbreaks of disease, parasites, and predators, and to the effects of pesticides. However, given the commonness of their host plants, wide habitat range -- including suburban areas -- and statewide distribution, this species can easily recover from those losses and appears to be secure in the state for the foreseeable future. In the Northeast, this is one of the few species of Saturniid that appears to be increasing in number (Wagner, 2012).

Photo Gallery for Antheraea polyphemus - Polyphemus Moth

220 photos are available. Only the most recent 30 are shown.

	Recorded by: Jeff Niznik, David George, Larry Chen, Sarah Toner, Joye Zhou on 2025-06-20 Richmond Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Caroline Gillison on 2025-06-14 Wake Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-05-29 Wilson Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2025-05-24 Richmond Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mc Rae on 2025-05-01 Dare Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Abel Davalos on 2025-04-30 Wilson Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2025-04-26 Brunswick Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jim Petranka and Becky Elkin on 2025-04-15 Bladen Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Christina Abbood on 2025-04-09 Pender Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Christina Abbood on 2025-04-09 Pender Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Eugenia Wade on 2025-03-05 Edgecombe Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Eugenia Wade on 2025-03-05 Edgecombe Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George on 2024-09-30 Durham Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George on 2024-09-30 Durham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George on 2024-09-15 Orange Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-09-12 Wilson Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George on 2024-09-08 Durham Co. Comment:		Recorded by: David George on 2024-09-08 Durham Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: ASH on 2024-08-21 Yancey Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Morgan Freese on 2024-08-16 Buncombe Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Jim Petranka on 2024-08-13 Madison Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Matthew Scoggins on 2024-08-11 Forsyth Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Kelsey Lieberman on 2024-08-10 Durham Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Mark Basinger on 2024-08-08 Mitchell Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George, Jeff Niznik, Kevin Bischof on 2024-08-07 Transylvania Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Michael P. Morales on 2024-07-22 Cumberland Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: David George on 2024-07-20 Chatham Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Jeff Niznik on 2024-07-14 Watauga Co. Comment:
	Recorded by: Morgan Freese on 2024-07-11 Buncombe Co. Comment:		Recorded by: Emily Stanley on 2024-07-09 Buncombe Co. Comment: