Polyphemus moths (often called Cyclops moths) are common throughout North America, including New York and Pennsylvania. If you spend any time outdoors at night, you’ve surely seen them. They are one of the largest silk moths and are readily identified by the large “eye spots” on their wings.

Polyphemus is the large one-eyed creature from Greek mythology known to all of us as the Cyclops. These beautiful moths are named after him (antheraea polyphemus). They are quite large and tan-colored with an average wingspan of 6 inches.

Cyclops moths are found in deciduous (hardwood) forests, swamps and orchards. They are also found in urban areas if there are enough trees around. Their caterpillars eat a very diverse diet of broadleaf plants and tree leaves.

The life cycle of the Polyphemus moth is truly fascinating. Females lay up to 5 flat light brown eggs on the underside of the leaf of a host tree. Small yellow caterpillars emerge when the eggs hatch. The caterpillars molt four different times, then on the fifth time turn into a pupa. The changes that occur each time they molt are called instars.

The caterpillars are green colored with white spots after their final change and grow to approximately 3-4 inches in length. They spin cocoons of brown silk often containing leaves of the host tree for additional camouflage. 

These caterpillars have two defense mechanisms against predators. The first is that they loudly click their mandibles together up to 60 times. The second is that they regurgitate their food which is thought to also contain chemicals from digestion that are toxic or taste bad. After throwing up, the caterpillar will re-eat everything and then repeat the process if there are additional attacks.

There are two hatches of adult moths each year, one in early Spring and the other in late Summer. When the adult moths emerge, they immediately start mating. Adult Polyphemus moths do not eat anything because they have neither mouths nor complete digestive tracts. The adults only live up to one week before they die and their sole purpose before that is reproduction, to continue the cycle.

Male Cyclops moths have special receptors in their antennae for detecting the pheromones that the females emit. Males will travel many miles to find females. These moths are primarily nocturnal and are most often seen at dusk or during the night.

The females and males can be distinguished by the very bushy antennae of the latter. Polyphemus moths can vary quite a bit in color, running the gamut from the usual tan to reddish cinnamon to darker brown. They have the previously mentioned “eye spots” and color patterns to mimic the look of a Great Horned Owl’s face, which confuses predators, allowing the adult moths to escape.

Let’s all enjoy the outdoors!

John S. Van Etten is the current president of the Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs of Sullivan County, Inc.