Species · GBIF taxon 1866570
Polyphemus Moth
Antheraea polyphemusAlso known as Polyphemus Giant Silk Moth, American Silk Moth
Polyphemus moths navigate the night skies of North American forests using feather-like antennae to locate mates over vast distances. Adults emerge from dense, silk-wrapped cocoons without mouthparts, relying entirely on energy stored during their caterpillar stage to survive their brief, week-long lives. When threatened, they spread their forewings to reveal startling, purplish eyespots on their hindwings, a dramatic defense designed to mimic the face of a much larger predator.
NocturnalGiantDeciduous Forests
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Oak leaves
- Maple leaves
- Birch leaves
Predators
- Bats
- Insectivorous birds
- Rodents
ThreatsLight pollution, pesticide applications, and habitat loss
HabitatsDeciduous forests, wetlands, orchards, and suburban gardens
Life spanUp to one year, with adults living only 7 to 10 days
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- FamilySaturniidae
- SpeciesAntheraea polyphemus
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Reduce Outdoor Lights: Turn off porch lights during summer nights to prevent exhausting these nocturnal fliers.
- Check the Ground: Look closely at the base of oak or maple trees in autumn to spot their tough, leaf-wrapped cocoons.
- Observe Antennae: Distinguish males from females by looking at their antennae, which are much wider and more feathery in males.
Close Relative "Lovely luna moth at the Neosho National Fish Hatchery" by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service - Midwest Region is licensed under CC BY 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/. · cc-by
Close Relative "Cecropia Moth (Hyalophora cecropia)" by Slomoz is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/. · cc-by-sa
Close Relative (c) Trevor Edmonson, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Trevor Edmonson · cc-by
Help improve the field guideSomething wrong?
Checking your Fauna account…Report a name, category, or profile issue for review.