Hello,

That is a Polyphemus moth, Antheraea polyphemus (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae).

The following is from Iowa State University’s Bugguide.net

Explanation of Names

Polyphemus was the mythological one-eyed cyclops, mentioned in The Odyssey of Homer.

Numbers

The most common of the large Saturnid moths in much of its range.

Size

Wingspan 100-150 mm

Identification

Adult: large, brown, with a small round eyespot near the middle of the forewing, and a huge round or elliptical eyespot near the middle of the hindwing. Males (below, left) have much smaller bodies but much larger and more feathery antennae than do females. There is a lot of variability in this species.

Larva: body large, bright green, with red and silvery spots below setae, and oblique yellow lines running through spiracles on abdomen; diagonal streak of black and silver on ninth abdominal segment; head and true legs brown; base of primary setae red, subdorsal and lateral setae have silver shading below; end of prolegs with yellow ring, and tipped in black

Range

Widespread in North America: southern Canada southward. Most widespread North American saturniid: found in all Canadian provinces except Newfoundland. Found in virtually every one of the continental United States.

Habitat

Deciduous forests, orchards, some wetlands. Adults (imagos) of both sexes frequent at lights.

Season

In southern United States, adults fly April-May and July-August (2 broods); in northern part of range, adults fly from May to July (1 brood). Larvae present March to November

Food

Larvae feed on leaves of broad-leaved trees and shrubs, including birch, grape, hickory, maple, oak, willow, and members of the rose family.

Adults do not feed.

Life Cycle

Two or more generations per year in the south, one in the north.

Read more about this moth at https://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/MISC/MOTHS/polyphemus_moth.htm

Best regards,

Howard

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