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ECOLOGY ▪ EDUCATION ▪ ADVOCACY

Adult male — OwenCounty (Rick Malad)
Adult male (underwings) — HamiltonCounty (Amanda Smith)
Adult female — Hancock County (Kelly McPherson)
Adult Female (underwings) — Lake County (Rick Welton)
Mating adults — Lake County (Rick Welton)
Closeup of male antennae — Scott County (Anthony Lara)
Closeup of female antennae —  Tippecanoe County (Chris Joll)
Closeup of large eyespot — Lake County (Joelle Halon)
Closeup of small eyespot — Tippecanoe County (Chris Joll)
Larvae (early instar) — Hancock County (Kelly McPherson)
Larvae — LaGrange County (Doug Selzer)
Pupa — Hamilton County (Amanda Wanlass)
Recently emerged adult with cocoon — Lake County (Rick Welton)
American Flag Flag of Indiana An Indiana Native

Antheraea polyphemus — Polyphemus Moth

(Linneaus, 1758)

polyphemus Species Antheraea Genus Saturniini Tribe Saturniinae Subfamily Family Saturniidae Bombycoidea Superfamily Order Lepidoptera Insecta Class Hexapoda Subphylum Phylum Arthropoda Kingdom Animalia
polyphemus Species Antheraea Genus Saturniini Tribe Saturniinae Subfamily Family Saturniidae Bombycoidea Superfamily Order Lepidoptera Insecta Class Hexapoda Subphylum Phylum Arthropoda Kingdom Animalia

Hodges# 7757

Etymology

Antheraea: Origin is New Latin but most likely derived from Greek antheros meaning “brightly colored, brilliant, or flowery.”

Polyphemus: Named after the cyclopic son of Poseidon in Greek mythology; a reference to the moth’s pronounced eyespots.

Tischbeing painting
Johann Heinrich Wilhelm Tischbein’s 1802 portrait of Polyphemus.

Pronunciation

an-thur-ee-uh pah-lee-fee-muhs

Adult male — OwenCounty (Rick Malad)
Adult male (underwings) — HamiltonCounty (Amanda Smith)
Adult female — Hancock County (Kelly McPherson)
Adult Female (underwings) — Lake County (Rick Welton)
Mating adults — Lake County (Rick Welton)
Closeup of male antennae — Scott County (Anthony Lara)
Closeup of female antennae —  Tippecanoe County (Chris Joll)
Closeup of large eyespot — Lake County (Joelle Halon)
Closeup of small eyespot — Tippecanoe County (Chris Joll)
Larvae (early instar) — Hancock County (Kelly McPherson)
Larvae — LaGrange County (Doug Selzer)
Pupa — Hamilton County (Amanda Wanlass)
Recently emerged adult with cocoon — Lake County (Rick Welton)

Adult Size and Description

  • Wingspan: 100–150 mm (4–6 in)
  • Coloration and Patterning:
    • Tannish brown to orange. Hindwings typically darker
    • Discal eyespot on each wing. Forewings with a transparent center. Hindwing spots larger, bordered in black, and resembling vertebrate eyes.
  • Sexual Dimorphism:
  • Defense Mechanisms:

Range

This map illustrates documented North American records of Antheraea polyphemus as of 31 December 2020.

species present icon Documented record(s)

Conservation Status — NatureServe Rankings

Although their populations are considered secure, polyphemus moths overwinter as pupae, often in leaf litter. At least one source indicates the common autumn practice of raking and discarding leaves must result in widespread loss of polyphemus pupae (Bouseman & Sternburg 2002).

ConservationBaseMap Indiana Status National Status Global Status NR 5 5

secure 5: Secure not ranked NR: Not ranked

Floral Associates

Antheraea polyphemus caterpillars are polyphagous and feed almost exclusively on the foliage of native trees and shrubs. Adults lack a digestive system, do not eat, and exist solely for reproduction.


Known Larval Food Sources in Indiana
Family Taxonomic Name Common Name
Order: Cornales
CornaceaeCornus spp.dogwoods
Order: Dipsicales
AdoxaceaeSambucus spp.elderberries
CaprifoliaceaeWeigela spp.weigela
Order: Ericales
Epigaea repensEpigaea repenstrailing arbutus
EricaceaeGaylussacia spp.huckleberries
Vaccinium spp.blueberries
Order: Fabales
FabaceaeBaptisia spp.wild indigos
Gleditsia spp.water and honey locusts
Order: Fagales
BetulaceaeAlnus spp.alders
Betula spp.birches
Carpinus carolinianamusclewood, aka blue beech
Corylus americanaAmerican hazelnut
Ostrya virginianahop-hornbeam, aka ironwood
FagaceaeCastanea dentataAmerican chestnut
Fagus grandifoliaAmerican beech
Quercus spp.oaks
JuglandaceaeCarya spp.hickories
Juglans spp.black walnut and butternut
Order: Hamamelidales
PlatanaceaePlatanus occidentalisAmerican sycamore
Order: Lamiales
OleaceaeFraxinus spp.ashes
Order: Laurales
LauraceaeSassafras albidumsassafras
Order: Magnoliales
MagnoliaceaeLiriodendron tulipiferatulip tree
Order: Malvales
TiliaceaeTilia americanaAmerican basswood
Order: Myrtales
LythraceaeLythrum spp.loosestrifes
Order: Pinales
PinaceaePinuspines
Order: Rosales
RhamnaceaeRhamnus spp.buckthorns
RosaceaeAmelanchier spp.serviceberries
Crataegus spp.hawthorns
Malus spp.apples and crabapples
Prunus spp.cherries
Pyrus spp.pears
Rosa spp.roses
Sorbus spp.mountain ash
UlmaceaeUlmus spp.elms
Order: Salicales
SalicaceaePopulus spp.poplars
Salix spp.willows
Order: Sapindales
AceraceaeAcer spp.maples
AnacardiaceaeRhus spp.sumacs
HippocastanaceaeAesculus spp.buckeyes
Order: Saxifragales
HamamelidaceaeHamamelis spp.witch hazels
Order: Solinales
SolanaceaeCapsicum spp.peppers
Order: Vitales
VitaceaeVitis spp.grapes

Polyphemus Moth (Antheraea polyphemus) in Indiana

The map, graph(s), and data below represent the Indiana sightings of Antheraea polyphemus as of 13 November 2024, confirmed through photographic evidence by individuals who contributed to the Great American IN Nature Lepidoptera Project (GAIN LP).

Occurrences by County

Counties recorded: 55 of 92

Top counties/#of records:
Marion: 49
Hamilton: 30
Porter: 24
Lake: 19
Brown: 15
Johnson: 14
Hancock: 13

species present icon GAIN LP documented in county

Sightings by Month

Total Sightings by Year

Sightings by Gender

Image Gallery

The images and records below were all submitted by individuals through the Great American Indiana Nature Lepidoptera Project (GAIN LP).

Photo Credit

The photograph of the Johann Heinrich Wilhelm Tischbein painting is public domain via Wikimedia Commons.