Are polyphemus caterpillars harmful?
Polyphemus moths are not at all dangerous or harmful. They do not bite nor do they sting. Their beauty is to be simply enjoyed. Admittedly the caterpillars may do a number of rose bushes, fruit trees, and other vegetation, but there are generally not enough of them at one time to do irreversible damage.
How big do Polyphemus moth caterpillars get?
Older instars are yellow-green, and the setae become relatively less prominent with each molt. The translucent yellowish-green to green, full-grown (fifth instar) caterpillars are 60 to 75 mm in length (Godfrey et al. 1987).
What does a Polyphemus moth caterpillar look like?
Physical Description. Polythemus moths, as caterpillars, are bright green with a reddish brown head. They have 6 orange tubercles and bristles on each segment of their body. Each abdomen segment has a slanted yellow line that is purple-brown in color.
What do polyphemus caterpillars eat?
The polyphemus caterpillar prefers oak, hickory, elm, maple and birch but apple, beech, ash, willow, linden, rose, grape and pine are also satisfactory host plants.
What month do Polyphemus moths emerge?
Polyphemus moths overwinter in their silken cocoons, the adult moths emerging in late spring and early summer.
How long does a Polyphemus caterpillar stay in a cocoon?
Fresh cocoons are papery and silky white, but over the span of a few days they harden and become thougher and become brownish. The cocoons of Antheraea polyphemus can be stored at room temperature. Depending on the time of the year, they will hatch quite soon – often in about 4 to 6 weeks time.
What does a Polyphemus moth turn into?
Polyphemus Moth (Antheraea polyphemus)
It takes about 10 days for the egg to hatch into a tiny caterpillar and about 5-6 weeks to grow into the full its size of about 3 inches long and 3/4 inch in diameter. The caterpillars are green in all instars. The 5th instar caterpillars eat a tremendous amount.
How long do Polyphemus moths live for?
Adults of this family of moths have vestigial mouths, meaning their mouth parts have been reduced. Because of this, they do not eat and only live as adults for less than one week.
Are Polyphemus moths common?
The Polyphemus moth (Antheraea polyphemus) is the most widely distributed of the giant silk moths in North America. The ethereal luna moth (Actias luna) is another large, common and well-known silk moth.