7757 -- Polyphemus MothMoth -- Antheraea polyphemus

I can't be certain that the 05/12 and 05/13 specimens are not the same moth. Larry Line gave me one which I brought home, photographed, and released. I got my best photo of it after release when it just flopped down on the driveway in broad daylight. The next night another (the same?) moth came sailing in to the light at the back of the house and spent the night there. That moth had bird-nipped hind wings. Other than that I cannot find any specific marking to distinguish either moth in the two photos. There were a few worn, visitors later in the month, including one that must have been just at death's doorstep.

05/12/2004 -- From Clarksville, MD 05/13/2004
05/21/2004 05/31/2004 -- and it could still fly!
  References

Covell Field Guide p.49; Pl. 9(7)

Species page at Moth Photographers Group





Links to:   Moth Photographers Group  at the  Mississippi Entomological Museum  at   Mississippi State University


Send suggestions, additions, corrections to Bob Patterson at BPatter789


Files/Live/BP/BPspecies/7757.shtml -- 12/14/2006