Moth Photographers Group – Antheraea polyphemus

Digital Guide to Moth Identification

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Saturniidae

890070 – 7757 Antheraea polyphemus (Cramer, [1776])

Polyphemus Moth

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Distribution Data for Antheraea polyphemus

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Larva and Host Plants:	Host familiy: Adoxaceae[Caprifoliaceae] Aquifoliaceae Betulaceae Bombacaceae Combretaceae Cornaceae Diervillaceae[.. Host genera: Acer Aesculus Alnus Amelanchier Arbutus Baptisia Betula Bombax[unresolved] Bucida Capsicum Carpinus ... Host extended: Sambucus(?) Rhamnus(?) (Wagner 2005); [cannot assign species with certainity for following record] ... (Kimberley & Douglas 2025)
Similar Species:	Pinned specimens of related species. (Hint: select View by Region on the related species page.)
Synonymy:	polyphemus (Cramer, [1776]) (Phalaena) - MONA 1983: 7757 intermedia (Bouvier, 1936) (Telea) polypheme (Hübner, 1819) (Telea) tuxtlasensis Balcazar & Vasquez, 1994 (Antheraea) polyphemus (Cramer, [1776]) (Phalaena) albida (Bouvier, 1936) (Telea) brunnea (Sageder, 1933) (Telea) fenestra (Perry, 1811) (Phalaena) flava (Grote, 1902) (Telea) fumosus (Wurster, 1930) (Telea) nigra (Schüssler, 1936) (Telea) nigrescens (Schüssler, 1936) (Telea) olivacea (Cockerell, 1914) (Telea) vinacea (Schüssler, 1936) (Telea) wilfriedi (Sageder, 1933) (Telea)

References (Caution: DNA barcoding at BOLD provides evidence of relatedness, not proof of identification; some BOLD specimens shown may not be sequenced.)

Barcode of Life (BOLD) - Caution: Identifications often erroneous; DNA barcode provides evidence of relatedness, not proof of identification; many specimens not sequenced.
Ferguson, D. C., 1972. Moths of America North of Mexico, Fascicle 20.2b: p. 200; pl. 14.15-16, 15.3-5. order or free PDF
Hall et al., 2021. The Moths of North Carolina - website (identification, habitats and life history)
Powell, J. A. & P. A. Opler, 2009. Moths of Western North America, Pl. 37.6f; p. 239. Book Review and ordering
Shropshire, K.J. & D.W. Tallamy, 2025. Lepidoptera of North America, north of Mexico: an annotated list containing geographic ranges and host-plant records. ZooKeys, 1261: 101-113; Suppl. 1. (PDF or read online)
Species Page at Block Island Moths
Species Page at BugGuide.Net
Species Page at E. H. Strickland Museum
Species Page at Mass Moths
Species Page at Pacific Northwest Moths
Species Page at iNaturalist
Species page at Moths of North Dakota.