Updated September 30, 2005 at 10:22 pm: This entry was Botany Photo of the Day's contribution to the first-ever Circus of the Spineless, a monthly gathering of online essays and photographs about invertebrates.
The discovery of this caterpillar on a Nothofagus antarctica (southern beech) tree in the alpine garden yesterday provoked some excitement among the staff (and a comment that it has good taste in trees). Eight centimetres long and as thick as my forefinger, this caterpillar is the larval stage for the polyphemus moth (more, with distribution map). Leaves of deciduous hardwood trees and shrubs form the diet of this caterpillar. It has been observed that the caterpillar cuts the petiole of leaves it has skeletonized, so that (purportedly) no traces of its presence remain on the tree to alert predators.
Antheraea polyphemus belongs to the subfamily of moths known as the saturnids (Saturniidae), or giant silk moths. The Saturniidae, it can be argued, are the most striking of moths. Photographs of moths in this subfamily can be seen here: Saturniidae Moths from Thailand and the What's That Bug? gallery of saturnids.
Entomology / Botany resource link: Caterpillars of Pacific Northwest Forests and Woodlands. The life cycles of plants and insects are often intertwined, so knowledge of insects can give depth to understanding of plants; this link provides details on caterpillar morphology and ecology, as well as keys for identification.
Wasn't Polyphemus the name of the cyclops in the Odyssey? Once sees the casual resemblance .-)
Any historical anecdotes?
I do so enjoy the photos! Thank you.
Faustina
Faustina - yes! Here's the story of Polyphemus, and the connection is apparently the large eyespot on the adult moth's hindwings (see Yahooligans! - Polyphemus).
It seems like Greek myths are alive at UBC Botanical Garden these days (blatant plug!).
Very nice! The colours are so alive. Thanks
love those little feet!
Anyone have any pictures of nepenthes?
Thanks for the great links!
I have seen a Cecropia and a Luna; I'm not certain about a Polyphemus...
I appreciate your thoughtfulness.
Faustina
this fellla looks very like A eucolypti
Great photos. Thanks.
Found what I, now, believe is the antheraea polyphemus yesterday afternoon in our backyard, Lake Forest Park (North Seattle), Washington. My 4-year old son and I set it on one of our houseplants. Just hours later it had made itself at home and begun spinning its cocoon. I am now trying to find out how long it will be before it emerges from its cocoon. Anyone know?
Jason Colberg
Executive Director
Science Decathlon
http://www.sciencedecathlon.com
The link to “more, with distribution map” above suggests that this cocoon might be from this year's second brood, and that this would be the overwintering cocoon given that it is autumn. I'm doubting that will be the case, though, since it is on a houseplant (assuming the pupal development is temperature-dependent), and you would see the moth emerge in about two week's time - perhaps not what is best for the moth.
For an enlightening account, see this web page - the author suggests exposing the cocoon to local conditions so that emergence will be timed with other moths.
I teach at an elementary school in Hampton, VA. Our students have been finding these caterpillars daily outside (we have beautiful oak trees on our campus). I found one tonight in my carport that had been blown down from a pin oak tree nearby. We may be seeing some amazing moths next spring!
I had posted the September 14, 2005 comment above about finding an antheraea polyphemus catepillar and having it spin a cocoon on a houseplant.
Well today, December 3, 2005, it seems to have emerged this evening 11:00ish pm. Incidentally, I had accidentally left our heat at about 78 degrees (Fahrenheit for Canadian readers :-)). Anyway, discovering this this evening was quite interesting. I have just been working and I heard a light flapping on my office window. I looked up to find the antheraea polyphemus moth which is the size of a small bat. Anyway, it is very pretty and reminds me of one of my childhood favorites I had found in Montana.
~ Jason
Where can translate "Polyphemus Moth Caterpillar" and other moths, and butterflies. From English to French?
Bonjour, George. Babel Fish Translation.
Just stumbled onto this discussion. I'm not moth expert, but I did incubate a polyphemus moth indoors over the winter once. I found him in autumn and overnight he built a cocoon in the gatorade bottle I captured him in. To prevent mold, I cut out the sides of the bottle to allow air to pass freely. I thought it would be best to mimic the natural temperature cycle as best I could, so I used a mini-fridge to house it through the winter months (November-March in Kentucky). The temperature was kept in the 40s. I remember that it seemed to be drying out so I started misting it with water to keep it from drying out. Around March I gradually increased the temperature a little each week over a month's time. In April, I set the bottle out on my window sill.
Ideally, I should have kept it outside instead of my turning my fridge into a laboratory, but I was in college and stuck in a dorm room.
Several weeks later, I woke up at 3 am to the sound of wings flapping frantically at my window blinds. I really couldn't believe the size of the thing. I definitely didn't expect to be afraid of the thing, but I have to admit that it was a little freaky to have to sleep with that huge furry thing crashing around in the room.
It was a very beautiful creature though, and I couldn't believe how much larger it was than the cocoon. The antennae were amazing, so delicate and intricate.
The next day I placed him in an aquarium (he was resting on the ceiling), and set him outside under a tree. In retrospect, I probably should have kept him inside until dark to protect him from daytime predation. Alas, I can only hope that it made it.
Hi there – A lady brought in a polyphemus moth (adult), that she found in her basement. We have it here – but I’ve realized now that it has no mouth parts so can’t event feed. I obviously can’t release it outdoors with 2 feet of snow – any suggestions of what to do with an adult moth???
Thanks!
Not much can be done, I'm afraid. It won't survive to reproduce.
Hello,
We, at the Houston Museum of Natural Sciences, really like your work! We'd like to ask your permission to use your photograph of Polyphemus moth caterpillar in our entomology exhibits. Please let us know asap, e-mail to Kira at kirazh@gmail.com
Thanks, and hope we hear from you soon!
Hi Kira,
Sorry, I'm so swamped with work that I have to shift photo requests to being a low priority for me - and since these often have tight timelines, I suppose I upset a lot of people. If you're still interested and can work on my timeline, let me know.
My son is in entomology and is doing an educational display on the polyphemus moth. Does anyone have a dead moth they have found and would be willing to donate it to the box? He woul like to show the back of the wings camo. He has a pinned moth and a empty cocoon.
If anyone has a polyphemus moth to donate to my son's box contact me at karenezimmerman@aol.com
Karen, there isn't too much traffic on older entries. You might have better luck asking on BugGuide.