What is it? I have seen one only once before many years ago.
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That's fucking nice!!

Busch Light? fucking disgusting.

That is a Polyphemus Moth and it appears to be a female. You are lucky to have found one. Thanks for sharing.

The Polyphemus Moth (Antheraea polyphemus) is a North American member of the family Saturniidae, the giant silk moths.[1] It is a tan colored moth, with an average wingspan of 15 cm (6 inches). The most notable feature of the moth is its large, purplish eyespots on its two hindwings. The eye spots are where it gets its name – from the Greek myth of the Cyclops Polyphemus. The species is widespread in continental North America, with local populations found throughout subarctic Canada and the United States. The caterpillar of the Polyphemus Moth can eat 86,000 times its weight at emergence in a little less than two months.

Differentiating between sexes of this species is very easy. The most obvious difference is the plumose antennae. Males will have very bushy antennae while females will have moderately less bushy antennae. The male's bushy antennae are used to detect pheromones released by unmated females. Another difference is that the females will be slightly larger in the abdomen due to carrying eggs. There is a surprising amount of variation within this species. Color patterns can range from a reddish-cinnamon to a dark brown but are almost always a shade of brown.

It's just a bug. Squash it or spray it.

Pretty. Those and the Luna Moths are pretty cool. I'll see a couple every year.

Polyphemus Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> That is a Polyphemus Moth and it appears to be a
> female. You are lucky to have found one. Thanks
> for sharing.
>
> The Polyphemus Moth (Antheraea polyphemus) is a
> North American member of the family Saturniidae,
> the giant silk moths.[1] It is a tan colored moth,
> with an average wingspan of 15 cm (6 inches). The
> most notable feature of the moth is its large,
> purplish eyespots on its two hindwings. The eye
> spots are where it gets its name – from the
> Greek myth of the Cyclops Polyphemus. The species
> is widespread in continental North America, with
> local populations found throughout subarctic
> Canada and the United States. The caterpillar of
> the Polyphemus Moth can eat 86,000 times its
> weight at emergence in a little less than two
> months.
>
> Differentiating between sexes of this species is
> very easy. The most obvious difference is the
> plumose antennae. Males will have very bushy
> antennae while females will have moderately less
> bushy antennae. The male's bushy antennae are used
> to detect pheromones released by unmated females.
> Another difference is that the females will be
> slightly larger in the abdomen due to carrying
> eggs. There is a surprising amount of variation
> within this species. Color patterns can range from
> a reddish-cinnamon to a dark brown but are almost
> always a shade of brown.


I'm glad some of you like this. I was clearing an area when I found her under some brush. Should I stop because she may have been laying eggs?

6X Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Polyphemus Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > That is a Polyphemus Moth and it appears to be
> a
> > female. You are lucky to have found one.
> Thanks
> > for sharing.
> >
> > The Polyphemus Moth (Antheraea polyphemus) is a
> > North American member of the family
> Saturniidae,
> > the giant silk moths.[1] It is a tan colored
> moth,
> > with an average wingspan of 15 cm (6 inches).
> The
> > most notable feature of the moth is its large,
> > purplish eyespots on its two hindwings. The eye
> > spots are where it gets its name – from the
> > Greek myth of the Cyclops Polyphemus. The
> species
> > is widespread in continental North America,
> with
> > local populations found throughout subarctic
> > Canada and the United States. The caterpillar
> of
> > the Polyphemus Moth can eat 86,000 times its
> > weight at emergence in a little less than two
> > months.
> >
> > Differentiating between sexes of this species
> is
> > very easy. The most obvious difference is the
> > plumose antennae. Males will have very bushy
> > antennae while females will have moderately
> less
> > bushy antennae. The male's bushy antennae are
> used
> > to detect pheromones released by unmated
> females.
> > Another difference is that the females will be
> > slightly larger in the abdomen due to carrying
> > eggs. There is a surprising amount of variation
> > within this species. Color patterns can range
> from
> > a reddish-cinnamon to a dark brown but are
> almost
> > always a shade of brown.
>
>
> I'm glad some of you like this. I was clearing an
> area when I found her under some brush. Should I
> stop because she may have been laying eggs?

By all means. Set up a perimeter around the area and have an armed
guard on duty 24/7. Let PETA take over. Call the EPA and the Dept.
of the Interior. Last but not least, call Gerry Connolly and Jim
Moran so they can sponsor legislation declaring your property a
Wildlife Refuge. If you see bats flying around at night shoot them.
You'll need a permit from Fairfax County. SAVE THE BUGS!!

Very cool, I've never seen anything like that before... thanks for sharing.

Geez, at first glance I thought it was Nancy Pelosi

Those typically buzz around NOVA rednecks who drink beer that most college kids wouldn't touch.

Use a magnifying glass to look closer. Make sure you have direct sun.

wow. this is why women turn into dykes. i bet half the men on here who are saying their sarcastic and violent bullshit probably consider themselves part of some religion too. fucking tards. all you are good for is being sperm donors for another white trash or ghetto hoodlum. thank you to the guy who had enough interest to ask questions and respect nature. everything on this earth is part of you. if you cannot see that, you are a soulless ape; just another of the animals that you consider worthless.

Why do fucking niggers always throw garbage all over the place. Take a little pride and put the garbage in the can.

White people recycle.

I have seen a few this year, First time ever.
They are fucking cool! Good photo, but nothing like seeing it in person. very impressive and nice on the eyes.
Let the moth be, thanks for posting.

Run for your lives!!! It's Mothra!!!
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