Take the guilt out of keeping your property natural by learning about the life that depends on your benign neglect

Please click on individual images to ENLARGE. Click on enlargement to get even closer of view of Antheraea polyphemus, the giant Polyphemus moth, at World Peace Wetland Prairie on August 7, 2011.
For more about the life cycle of the Polyphemus moth, please see Fairfax, Virginia, public-school Web site.

Antheraea polyphemus a short-lived but giant moth whose caterpillars mostly feed on various oaks and many other trees: One magnificent reason never to rip off dead leaves or spray anything on your trees just because caterpillars are eating the foliage, and don't destroy crumpled leaves hanging or on the ground because they may be a beautiful moth's caterpillar in its chrysalis

For information about Antheraea polyphemus, the Polyphemus moth, see Wiki
Please click on individual images to ENLARGE. Click on enlargement for closer view.

Males have bushier antenae than females have

Saturday, August 6, 2011

Offering fruit to Polyphemus moth futile. Their caterpillars store up the food and the moth lives only a short time with the goal of mating and laying eggs on a suitable host tree

Mouth parts don't allow such moths to feed