#3080 · 🦋 butterflies & moths

Polyphemus Moth

Antheraea polyphemus

LCleast concern 🦋 Butterflies & moths 📍 outside Europe

7 photos from iNaturalist (Creative Commons) · credits & licences

what is it?

Antheraea polyphemus ( polyphemus moth ) is a North American member of the family Saturniidae, the giant silk moths. It is a tan-colored moth, with an average wingspan of 15 cm (6 in). The most notable feature of the moth is its large, purplish eyespots on its two hind wings. The eye spots give it its name – from the Greek myth of the Cyclops Polyphemus. The species is widespread in continental North America, with local populations found throughout subarctic...

base stats

NL sightings 0iNaturalist, research grade
worldwide 83,649iNaturalist observations
threat LCleast concern

Bars compare against all animals on log scales: up to 300,000 Dutch and 600,000 worldwide sightings (the most-seen species), 150 t (blue whale), 30 m and 400 years (Greenland shark).

fun facts

No confirmed wild sightings in the Netherlands on iNaturalist: you'd have to travel for this one.
83,649 observations worldwide on iNaturalist.
Scientifically named by Pieter Cramer in 1776 (250 years ago).