Antheraea polyphemus

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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 eye spots on its two hindwings. The eye spots are where it gets its name – from the Greek myth of the Cyclops Polyphemus.

Contents

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

Life cycle

The life cycle of the moth is much like 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, (peach)
Prunus, (plum, apricot, 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 vestigal mouths, meaning their mouthparts 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

Image:Antheraea polyphemus eggs sjh.JPG|Polyphemus eggs Image:Antheraea polyphemus 1st instar sjh.JPG|1st instar caterpillar. Reared on Post Oak. Image:Antheraea polyphemus 1st instar 2 sjh.JPG|1st instar caterpillar. Reared on Post Oak. Image:Polyphemus_caterpillar_big.jpg|Polyphemus caterpillar Image:Antheraea polyphemus female sjh.JPG|Polyphemus moth adult female Image:Antheraea polyphemus male sjh.JPG|Polyphemus moth adult male Image:Antheraea polyphemus variation sjh.JPG|Polyphemus moth adult variation

Threats

Pests of the moths have become a huge problem. Parisitic insects such as some species of wasps and flies, which 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. Squirels 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.

External links

References

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