Butterflies and Moths of North America

collecting and sharing data about Lepidoptera

  Sighting 1072696

Polyphemus moth
Antheraea polyphemus

Observation date: December 17, 2015
Submitted by: donnadel
Specimen type: Photograph
Observation notes: A warm morning in Houston, TX about 10:00 am came out to check other monarch caterpillars etc and saw this on the patio floor in the sunshine. There was a small puddle of water near it but I don't know where it came from, no signs of cocoon, but have a large blossoming honeysuckle plant/ vines nearby, although I never saw a cocoon on it and I was checking it regularly for monarch pupa's as milkweed is nearby. I do have 5 cocoons from a live oak tree in the front yard in containers nearby. Never touched it but let it crawl on a stick to put in container before the cat got it.
Status: Resident
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: December 25, 2015
Coordinator notes: None.
Checklist region(s): United States, Texas, Harris County