Our insect of the week for August 12, 2024 is the Polyphemus moth (Antheraea polyphemus). I htought it was time to feature another group of insects. This species is classified in the order Lepidoptera, family Saturniidae). This species was described by Pieter Cramer in 1776 (yes, the year we became a country). It is easily recognized by its large size (wingspan roughly 6 inches) and the large eye spots on the hind wings. Those eye spots are what gave inspiration for the name (from the Greek legend of the cyclops – Polyphemus). Although widespread in the U.S., populations seem to be declining. There are two broods each year (one group of adults emerge in early spring, the other in late summer). In fact, I often saw the adults as I was walking on the Illinois Central College campus as fall classes began in late August). Adults mate and the females lay eggs. The mouth parts are vestigial so the adults do not eat and live roughly a week. Caterpillars hatch from the eggs and molt five times (the last molt is to the pupal stage). Fun fact – when the caterpillar emerges from the egg, it eats roughly 86,000 times its weight as it grows over two months. I have seen caterpillars nearly 4 inches long. Males and females differ (males have larger antennae to seek out females; females have larger bodies as they are producing many eggs). You should be seeing adults in the next few weeks (if you haven’t already). Let us know when and where you see them. They are typically near wooded areas as the larvae prefer leaves from a variety of trees.