Polyphemus Moth

Description:

Identification: Upperside is reddish to yellowish brown; forewing margin is usually lighter than the basal area; forewing submarginal line is pink, or black and pink. Clear oval eyespots are ringed with yellow, blue, and black; hindwing eyespot is separated from the basal area of the wing by a thin pink line. Underside has rust, brown, and pink markings. Wing Span: 3 15/16 - 5 7/8 inches (10 - 15 cm).

Habitat:

I found this fuzzy beauty on the sidewalk in my apartment complex. I slowly coaxed it to crawl onto my finger, as to not damage it wings, so that i could move it to safety. It was so calm, giving me the opportunity to snap these shots. I then let it slowly crawl off my finger onto a nearby tree truck. I am thankful to this creature for sharing its life with me. :)

Notes:

Flight: One brood in the north from May-July, two broods in the Ohio Valley and southward from April-May and from July-August, two broods in the California Sierra Nevada, several broods throughout most of the year in Florida, Texas, and Louisiana. Caterpillar Hosts: A wide variety of trees and shrubs including oak (Quercus), willow (Salix), maple (Acer), and birch (Betula). Adult Food: Adults do not feed. Habitat: Deciduous hardwood forests, urban areas, orchards, and wetlands. Range: Locally common in its broad range province except Newfoundland and Prince Edward Island; in the United States, every state except Arizona and Nevada; and Mexico.