Our Own Mothra, the Giant Silkworm Moth!

About a week ago, Steve went across to our shop for something, and a few moments later he came running into the house yelling for me to grab the camera and come to the shop with him because there was something I was going to love! When we got there, he walked me over to a light on one wall and pointed. WOW WOW WOW!!! I was looking at the biggest moth I'd ever seen in my life!! Both of us were just stunned by this moth's size, and since it was so still, Steve was able to coax it onto his hand so I could take pictures and show how large it was compared to his fingers. Can you believe the size?!! We estimate it to be about 6" from wingtip to wingtip!

Giant Silkworm Moths, (also known as Polyphemus Moths) are found throughout North America and feature striking eye spots on each wing. As quoted from Wikipedia, "the eye spots are where it gets its name – from the Greek myth of the Cyclops Polyphemus. The caterpillar of the Polyphemus Moth can eat 86,000 times its weight at emergence in a little less than two months!" Males and females are easily identified by their antennae: females have much thinner plumes, and males, like this one, have luxuriously plumed antennae!

This image was taken in May, 2012.