Polyphemus moths are so named for the large eyespots on their wings. They are named after the Greek myth of the Cyclops, Polyphemus.
Polyphemus moth caterpillars are preyed upon by yellowjackets and ants. They are also parasitized by wasps. Larvae and pupae are consumed by raccoons and squirrels. The green coloration of caterpillars makes them difficult to spot. Adults also practice mimicry; they have eyespots on their hind wings.
Known Predators:
Anti-predator Adaptations: cryptic
Polythemus moths, as caterpillars, are bright green with a reddish brown head. They have 6 orange tubercles and bristles on each segment of their body. Each abdomen segment has a slanted yellow line that is purple-brown in color. Caterpillars can grow to about 7 cm in length.
As adults, members of this species are large moths. Polythemus moths have a hairy body, and adults can vary from red-brown to dark brown in color. Each hind wing has a large yellow “eyespot” lined with blue and black. The center of this eyespot is uniquely transparent. The front wings have a smaller yellow spot. The margin of both the front and hind wings has a black and white stripe. Wingspan ranges from 10 to 15 cm. Whereas adult males have bushy antennae for detecting pheromones, females have slender antennae.
Polyphemus moth caterpillars greatly resemble caterpillars of luna moths. While polyphemus moths have single horizontal lines along each side of the body, luna moths have vertical yellow lines on each segment.
Range length: caterpillar 7 (high) cm.
Range wingspan: 10 to 15 cm.
Sexual Dimorphism: sexes alike
Other Physical Features: ectothermic ; bilateral symmetry
As adults (moths), polyphemus moths live a maximum of only 4 days. Their entire life cycle averages about 3 months in length. This includes about 10 days as eggs, 5 to 6 weeks as larvae, 2 weeks as pupa, and about 4 days as adults. If they overwinter as pupa, this life cycle increases in length.
Average lifespan
Status: wild: 3 months.
Average lifespan
Status: captivity: 3 months.
Polyphemus moths inhabit deciduous hardwood forests, urban areas, orchards, and wetlands.
Habitat Regions: temperate
Terrestrial Biomes: forest
Wetlands: marsh ; swamp ; bog
Other Habitat Features: urban ; suburban ; agricultural ; estuarine
Polyphemus moths, Antheraea polyphemus, can be found in all of the continental United States except Arizona and Nevada and in every Canadian province except Newfoundland and Prince Edward Island.
Biogeographic Regions: nearctic (Native )
Caterpillars feed on leaves of broad-leaved trees and shrubs such as sweetgum (Liquidambar), birch (Betula), grape (Vitis), hickory (Carya), maple (Acer), oak (Quercus), willow (Salix), and members of the rose family (Rosaceae). Larvae also eat their egg shells after hatching and their freshly molted skin. A caterpillar eats 86,000 times its body weight. Adult moths have a reduced mouth and do not eat.
Plant Foods: leaves
Primary Diet: herbivore (Folivore )
Polyphemus moths act as prey for certain insects, raccoons, and squirrels. They are also parasitized by some wasps. Because they consume a large quantity of leaves, they may also considerably contribute to nutrient cycling.
Commensal/Parasitic Species:
There are no known direct positive effects of polyphemus moths on humans, though many are hand-raised by curious individuals.
Polyphemus moth caterpillars are occasionally considered pests to plum orchards in California.
Negative Impacts: crop pest
After about 10 days, tiny polyphemus moth caterpillars hatch from eggs. Larvae (caterpillars) molt 5 times and grow to their full size in 5 to 6 weeks. When caterpillars are fully grown, they wrap themselves in a leaf and build a cocoon out of silk. Cocoons are oval in shape, 40 mm in length and 22 to 24 mm in diameter. While in a cocoon, a caterpillar develops into a pupa and then emerges as an adult moth in about 2 weeks. Polyphemus moths can also overwinter in their cocoons, which increases time as pupae.
Development - Life Cycle: metamorphosis
Polyphemus moths have not been evaluated or are not considered threatened by the IUCN, US Fish and Wildlife Service or CITES.
US Federal List: no special status
CITES: no special status
State of Michigan List: no special status
When ready to mate, female polyphemus moths emit pheromones that attract males. Males use their sense of smell and touch to find females. Although larvae (caterpillars) have eyes, they are small and primitive, resulting in poor vision.
Communication Channels: tactile ; chemical
Other Communication Modes: pheromones
Perception Channels: visual ; tactile ; chemical
Popyphemus moths mate the same day that they emerge from their cocoons, and mating usually occurs during late afternoon. Females emit pheromones, which can be detected up to a mile away, to attract mates. Mating of saturniids can last from less than an hour to many hours. Females lay their eggs shortly after mating. If unsuccessful in recruiting a male after 2 or 3 days, females stop calling and release their unfertilized eggs.
Mating System: polygynous
Female polyphemus moths begin to emerge and mate during early spring. Females lay up to 5 eggs singly or in groups of 2 or 3 on the underside of tree leaves. Eggs are flat and round, cream to light tan in color on top with a brown outline, and are about 1.25 mm thick and 3 mm in diameter. In most regions, 2 broods of polyphemus moths hatch per year; one hatches in early spring and the other in late summer. However, in the northernmost part of their range, only one brood hatches per year. In the southern part of their range, many broods may hatch each year.
Breeding interval: Polyphemus moths breed once in their lifetime.
Breeding season: Polyphemus moths breed in early spring or summer.
Range eggs per season: 1 to 5.
Key Reproductive Features: seasonal breeding ; gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate); sexual ; fertilization (Internal ); oviparous
Female polyphemus moths usually lay their eggs on leaves that are a good food source for the caterpillars. They are not otherwise involved in the rearing of their offspring.
Parental Investment: no parental involvement
Antheraea polyphemus ist ein in Nordamerika vorkommender Schmetterling (Nachtfalter) aus der Familie der Pfauenspinner (Saturniidae). Das Artepitheton wurde aufgrund des auffälligen Augenflecks auf der Hinterflügeloberseite nach dem einäugigen Riesen Polyphem gewählt.[1]
Die Falter erreichen eine Flügelspannweite von 10 bis 15 Zentimetern.[2] Beide Geschlechter ähneln sich bezüglich der Färbung, die Weibchen sind jedoch größer als die Männchen. Die Grundfarbe der Oberseiten ist gelblich braun, rötlich braun oder graubraun. Die dunklen Querlinien sind rosa angelegt. Die Submarginalregion sowie die Basalregion sind gelblich, der Apex rosa. Auf der Vorderflügeloberseite befindet sich ein kleiner gelber Augenfleck. Im Zentrum der Hinterflügel hebt sich ein großer, ovaler, gelber Augenfleck ab, der mit einem Querstrich gekernt und in Richtung der Basalregion bläulich begrenzt ist. Die Unterseiten sämtlicher Flügel zeigen eine zeichnungsarme, verwaschene graubraune bis dunkel rotbraune Farbe. Die Augenflecke schimmern nur schwach hindurch. Die Männchen haben sehr große und stark gekämmte Fühler. Damit nehmen sie die von den Weibchen emittierten Pheromone auf.[3]
Fühler des Männchens
Weibchen (Präparat)
Unterseite (Männchen)
Ausgewachsene Raupen haben eine grasgrüne Grundfarbe und zeigen auf jedem Körpersegment einen hellgelben Schrägstreifen sowie rötliche Tracheen und kurze weiße Borsten. Der Kopf ist rotbraun.
Antheraea polyphemus kommt in den kanadischen Provinzen außer Neufundland und Prince Edward Island sowie in allen US-Bundesstaaten außer Arizona und Nevada verbreitet vor. Die Art besiedelt bevorzugt Laubwälder, Obstgärten und Feuchtgebiete. Zuweilen treten die Raupen in Pflaumen- oder Haselnuss-Plantagen als Agrarschädling auf.[4]
Die Falter fliegen je nach den klimatischen Verhältnissen in einer oder zwei Generationen, in Florida, Louisiana und Texas auch polyvoltin. Sie nehmen keine Nahrung zu sich. In der Nacht besuchen sie künstliche Lichtquellen. Die Weibchen legen die Eier in kleinen Gruppen auf den Blättern der Nahrungspflanze ab. Frisch geschlüpfte Raupen verzehren zunächst die Eihülle. Die Raupen ernähren sich dann von den Blättern vieler verschiedener Laubbaum-Arten, beispielsweise von Eichen (Quercus), Walnussgewächsen (Juglandaceae), Weiden, (Salix), Ulmen (Ulmus), Ahornen (Acer) und Birken (Betula).[5] Die nördlichen Populationen überwintern als Puppe.
Antheraea polyphemus ist ein in Nordamerika vorkommender Schmetterling (Nachtfalter) aus der Familie der Pfauenspinner (Saturniidae). Das Artepitheton wurde aufgrund des auffälligen Augenflecks auf der Hinterflügeloberseite nach dem einäugigen Riesen Polyphem gewählt.
Antheraea polyphemus, the Polyphemus moth, is a North American member of the family Saturniidae, the giant silk moths.[1] 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 hindwings. The eyespots give it its name – from the Greek myth of the cyclops Polyphemus. The species was first described by Pieter Cramer in 1776. The species is widespread in continental North America, with local populations found throughout subarctic Canada and the United States. The caterpillar can eat 86,000 times its weight at emergence in a little less than two months. Polyphemus moths are considered to be very polyphagous, meaning they eat from a wide variety of plants[2]
The life cycle of the moth is much like that of any other Saturniidae species. It lays flat, light-brown eggs on the leaves of a number of host trees, preferring Ulmus americana (American elm), Betula (birch), Salix (willow), but also, more rarely, can survive on other trees, including: Quercus (oak), Acer (maple), Carya (hickory), Fagus (beech), Gleditsia triacanthos (honey locust), Juglans (walnut), Pyrus (pear and quince), Prunus (plum, peach, apricot, cherry, etc.), Sassafras, and Citrus.
When the eggs hatch, small yellow caterpillars emerge. As the caterpillars age, they molt five times (the fifth being into a pupa). Each instar is slightly different, but on their fifth and final instar, they become bright green with silver spots on their sides. They feed heavily on their host plant and can grow up to 3–4 inches long. They then spin cocoons of brown silk, usually wrapped in leaves of the host plant.
Two broods generally hatch each year throughout the United States, one in early spring and one in late summer. The moths close and then must pump their wings with fluid (hemolymph) to extend them. The females emit pheromones, which the male can detect through his large, plumose (feathery) antennae. Males can fly for miles to reach a female.
After the moths mate, the female spends the majority of the remainder of her life laying eggs, while the male may mate several more times. Adults of this family of moths have vestigial mouths, meaning their mouth parts have been reduced. Because of this, they do not eat and only live as adults for less than one week.
In captivity, this moth is much more difficult to breed than other American saturniids such as Hyalophora cecropia, Callosamia promethea, or Actias luna. Kept in a cage, the male and female tend to ignore each other, unless a food plant (particularly oak leaves) is present.
Eggs
Caterpillar in Virginia, United States
Adults mating
Underside viewed through a window
Topside after falling off window
Differentiating between sexes of this species is very easy. The most obvious difference is the plumose antennae. Males have very bushy antennae while females have moderately less bushy antennae. The male's antennae are used to detect pheromones released by unmated females. Another difference is that the females are slightly larger in the abdomen due to carrying eggs. A surprising amount of variation occurs within this species. Color patterns can range from a reddish cinnamon to a dark brown, but are almost always a shade of brown.
In the late 1950s, amateur lepidopterist Gary Botting hybridized the Polyphemus moth (then known as Telea polyphemus) with Antheraea yamamai from Japan and, later, Antheraea mylitta from India by transferring the pheromone-producing scent sacs from female "T. polyphemus" to the Antheraea females and allowing T. polyphemus males to mate with them. The resultant hybrids were displayed in his winning U.S. National Science Fair exhibit "Intergeneric hybridization among giant silk moths". After Botting consulted with genetic statistician J.B.S. Haldane and his wife, entomologist Helen Spurway, the Polyphemus moth was reclassified, becoming Antheraea polyphemus.
Parasitic insects – such as the parasitoid wasp – lay their eggs in or on the young caterpillars. These then hatch into larvae that consume the insides of the caterpillars. Once the caterpillars pupate, the larvae themselves pupate, killing the Polyphemus pupa. The Compsilura concinnata tachinid fly, introduced to North America to control gypsy moth, is one particular known threat to the North American native Polyphemus moth.[3]
Squirrels have also been known to consume the pupae of Polyphemus moths, decreasing the population greatly. Pruning of trees and leaving outdoor lights on at night can also be detrimental to the moths.
The Polyphemus moth uses defense mechanisms to protect itself from predators. One of its most distinctive mechanisms is a distraction display that serves to confuse, or simply distract, predators. This involves the large eyespots on its hindwings, which give the moth its name (from the cyclops Polyphemus in Greek mythology). Eyespots are also startle patterns, a subform of distraction patterns, used for camouflage via deceptive and blending coloration.
Most startle patterns are brightly colored areas on the outer body of already camouflaged animals. (Another example of the use of startle patterns is the gray treefrog, with its bright-yellow leggings. When it leaps, a flash of bright yellow appears on its hind legs, usually startling the predator away from its prey.) Distraction patterns are believed to be a form of mimicry, meant to misdirect predators by markings on the moths' wings. The pattern on the hindwings of the Polyphemus moth resembles that on the head of the great horned owl (Bubo virginianus). This defense mechanism often results in wing damage to the moth, which does not affect the insects flight.
Antheraea polyphemus, the 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 hindwings. The eyespots give it its name – from the Greek myth of the cyclops Polyphemus. The species was first described by Pieter Cramer in 1776. The species is widespread in continental North America, with local populations found throughout subarctic Canada and the United States. The caterpillar can eat 86,000 times its weight at emergence in a little less than two months. Polyphemus moths are considered to be very polyphagous, meaning they eat from a wide variety of plants
Antheraea polyphemus
Le Polyphème d'Amérique (Antheraea polyphemus) est une espèce de lépidoptères nocturnes appartenant à la famille des Saturniidae. Ce papillon est répandu en Amérique du Nord. Il est caractérisé par une coloration beige à brune et la présence d'ocelles sur les ailes postérieures. On le trouve dans les boisés de feuillus, dans les milieux humides et dans les milieux urbains[1]. L'imago est attiré par la lumière[2].
Polyphème est le nom d'un cyclope, fils de Poséidon et de la nymphe Thoosa, dans la mythologie grecque. Cette créature ne possédait qu'un seul œil au milieu de son front. Chez l'insecte, ce nom fait référence aux deux grands ocelles que l'on retrouve dans le centre des ailes postérieures.
L'espèce est largement répartie en Amérique du Nord, du Sud du Canada jusqu'au Mexique. Au Canada, il se retrouve dans toutes les provinces à l'exception de celles de l'Île-du-Prince-Édouard et de Terre-Neuve-et-Labrador[3]. Aux États-Unis, il se retrouve dans 48 États à l'exception de l'Arizona et du Nevada[4].
L'imago du Polyphème d'Amérique a une envergure de près de 15 cm. Il possède une coloration brune qui peut varier de pâle à foncé. Les ailes antérieures ont de petits ocelles de forme ovale et de couleur jaune clair. Les ailes postérieures possèdent des ocelles ressemblant à de gros yeux. Les mâles ont de larges antennes plumeuses contrairement aux femelles[5]. La chenille mature est de couleur verte et possède une série de petites taches orangées et de fines lignes blanches sur les côtés. La tête de la chenille est brune orangée[6].
Selon les régions, le Polyphème d'Amérique peut produire plus d'une génération par année. Aux États-Unis, l'espèce n'a qu'une seule génération à partir du nord de la Pennsylvanie[7] et devient bivoltine à partir du sud de la vallée de l'Ohio[4]. Au Canada, il produit généralement qu'une seule génération.
À l'éclosion, la chenille est de couleur jaune. Le développement larvaire comprend 5 stades. Chaque stade est légèrement différent en coloration. Vers le 3e stade, la chenille affiche un vert très vif et possèdent une série de petites taches orangées et de fines lignes blanches sur les côtés. La chenille du polyphème d'Amérique ressemble à s'y méprendre à celle du papillon lune (Actias luna).
Au cours de son développement, la chenille se nourrira abondamment de sa plante hôte. À la fin de son stade larvaire, elle mesurera près de 7,5 cm[6]. Au moment venu, la chenille débutera le tissage d'un cocon de soie brune ou grise. Elle fait son cocon au sol ou dans les branches exposées aux grands vents[8]. Celui-ci sera généralement enveloppé dans les feuilles de la plante-hôte[1]. Avant d'entamer sa chrysalidation, elle vide ses intestins de l'excédent d'eau, de nourritures, de matières fécales et d'autres fluides. Sa peau se fend alors et elle se transforme en chrysalide à l'intérieur de son cocon.
œufs
Premier stade larvaire
Deuxième stade larvaire
Quatrième stade larvaire
Cinquième stade larvaire
La femelle pond ses œufs sur une grande variété de plantes[9] :
Les chenilles du polyphème d'Amérique sont les hôtes de nombreux insectes parasitoïdes (mouche tachinide, guêpe ichneumonide et guêpe braconide)[4]. Tous les stades de développement sont sujets à la prédation par plusieurs types de vertébrés et d'invertébrés prédateurs.
Antheraea polyphemus
Le Polyphème d'Amérique (Antheraea polyphemus) est une espèce de lépidoptères nocturnes appartenant à la famille des Saturniidae. Ce papillon est répandu en Amérique du Nord. Il est caractérisé par une coloration beige à brune et la présence d'ocelles sur les ailes postérieures. On le trouve dans les boisés de feuillus, dans les milieux humides et dans les milieux urbains. L'imago est attiré par la lumière.
Antheraea polyphemus is een vlinder uit de familie van de nachtpauwogen (Saturniidae).[1] De wetenschappelijke naam van de soort is, als Telea polyphemus, voor het eerst geldig gepubliceerd in 1775 door Pieter Cramer.[2]
De vlinder heeft een spanwijdte van 100 tot 150 millimeter.
Het verspreidingsgebied beslaat bijna geheel Noord-Amerika behalve Newfoundland, Prince Edward Island, Arizona, Nevada en Mexico. In het noordelijk deel vliegt één generatie van mei tot en met juli en in het zuidelijk deel vliegen twee generaties per jaar van april tot mei, en van juli tot augustus.
De vlinders komen 's middags uit hun cocon en proberen diezelfde avond en nacht nog te paren met een partner. De vrouwtjes leggen die nacht direct ook de eitjes op de waardplanten van de rups. De vlinders eten niet meer na het verpoppen en leven dus maar kort.
De larven voeden zich met bladeren van eiken, wilgen en essen. Ze eten eerst het blad weg en bijten vervolgens het steeltje door zodat het blad valt. Mogelijk wordt dit gedaan om de vraat aan de bladen te verdoezelen voor vijanden.
Bronnen, noten en/of referentiesAntheraea polyphemus is een vlinder uit de familie van de nachtpauwogen (Saturniidae). De wetenschappelijke naam van de soort is, als Telea polyphemus, voor het eerst geldig gepubliceerd in 1775 door Pieter Cramer.
Antheraea polyphemus er en sommerfugl som tilhører familien påfuglspinnere (Saturniidae). Denne store arten forekommer over store deler av Nord-Amerika.
En stor (vingespenn opptil 150 mm), gulbrun spinner med store vinger. Hannen er mindre og slankere enn hunnen, og med sterkere farger. Forvingen har en hvit tverrstripe nær roten, et liten, hvit øyeflekk rundt midten, et brunt tverrbånd rundt 2/3 ut i vingen og et smalt, gråsvart bånd utenfor dette. Ved vingespissen er det en liten, svart flekk. Bakvingen har en stor, svart, blå og gul øyeflekk og et svart og hvitt bånd langs ytterkanten. Larven er grønn med sølvfargede flekker langs sidene.
Larven kan finnes på en lang rekke forskjellige løvtrær. Som vanlig hos påfuglspinnere, sitter hunnene mest i ro og sender ut feromoner, mens hannene flyr rundt på leting etter hunner.
Antheraea polyphemus er en sommerfugl som tilhører familien påfuglspinnere (Saturniidae). Denne store arten forekommer over store deler av Nord-Amerika.
Antheraea polyphemus (sau Molia polifemă) este o specie de molie din familia Saturniidae, întâlnită în America de Nord. [1] Este o specie frumos colorată, cu o anvergură medie de 15 cm. Cea mai interesantă caracteristică a moliei este ochiul marcat pe aripă, folosit pentru mimetism, de unde derivă și numele său (de la ciclopul Polifem). Este larg răspândită în America de Nord, cu câteva populații în Canada subarctică și în Statele Unite.
Ouă
Primul stadiu de omidă.
Omidă
Femelă adultă
Mascul adult
Colecţie de adulţi
Femelă adultă
Împerechere
Adult
Adult
Comparaţie
Materiale media legate de Antheraea polyphemus la Wikimedia Commons
Acest articol despre o specie din familia Saturniidae este un ciot. Puteți ajuta Wikipedia prin completarea lui.
Antheraea polyphemus (sau Molia polifemă) este o specie de molie din familia Saturniidae, întâlnită în America de Nord. Este o specie frumos colorată, cu o anvergură medie de 15 cm. Cea mai interesantă caracteristică a moliei este ochiul marcat pe aripă, folosit pentru mimetism, de unde derivă și numele său (de la ciclopul Polifem). Este larg răspândită în America de Nord, cu câteva populații în Canada subarctică și în Statele Unite.
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