1y ago

Found this moth today

Any chance someone knows anything about it? It was found in the Great Lakes area. It's about palm sized, found near a tree by the playground. I returned it to an out of the way place where kids wouldn't mess it it.

6 comments

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyalophora_cecropia
maybe?
- Close, but this guy has these eye like holes towards the upper center of his wings, and the lower lobe is a slightly different shape where it attaches to the body. I wish I had been able to got a pic while his wings were open.
  Edited to add: thanks for the idea though :) someone else did ID what I think is the right species, the polyphemus moth
Those feathery antennae/whiskers are adorable
- Right!? I wish I was small enough I could pet his fur and maybe fly around a bit lol
Looks like a polyphemus moth. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antheraea_polyphemus
- Yeah! I think thats it! Especially the waves on the upper wing and the dark spots. The antennae also look the same.
  Super interesting to think he'll only be alive for at most one more week. Still glad I saved him from the kindergardeners lol
  Thanks for helping with the ID :)

6 comments