Moths of North Carolina
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View PDFSaturniidae Members: Antheraea Members: 424 NC Records

Antheraea polyphemus (Cramer, 1776) - Polyphemus Moth

Antheraea polyphemusAntheraea polyphemusAntheraea polyphemusAntheraea polyphemus
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, BOLDTechnical 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.
Antheraea polyphemusAlamance Alexander Alleghany Anson Ashe Avery Beaufort Bertie Bladen Brunswick Buncombe Burke Cabarrus Caldwell Camden Carteret Caswell Catawba Chatham Cherokee Chowan Clay Cleveland Columbus Craven Cumberland Currituck Dare Davidson Davie Duplin Durham Edgecombe Forsyth Franklin Gaston Gates Graham Granville Greene Guilford Halifax Harnett Haywood Henderson Hertford Hoke Hyde Iredell Jackson Johnston Jones Lee Lenoir Lincoln Macon Madison Martin McDowell Mecklenburg Mitchell Montgomery Moore Nash New Hanover Northampton Onslow Orange Pamlico Pasquotank Pender Perquimans Person Pitt Polk Randolph Richmond Robeson Rockingham Rowan Rutherford Sampson Scotland Stanly Stokes Surry Swain Transylvania Tyrrell Union Vance Wake Warren Washington Watauga Wayne Wilkes Wilson Yadkin Yancey
Flight Dates:
High Mountains (HM) ≥ 4,000 ft.
Low Mountains (LM) < 4,000 ft.
Piedmont (Pd)
Coastal Plain (CP)

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