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Giant Silk MothsLooks like a plump sider had her way with a butterfly.
Thu, Feb 12, 2009 at 9:44 PM
Here’s a picture. I found this insect in Aventura, Florida by doctor’s office and took pictures.
Not Sure
Aventura, Florida
Polyphemus Moth
Dear Not Sure,
We don’t know what a plump sider is. At first we thought your subject line might be a typographical error and that you were sending in a Food Chain image of a fat spider eating a butterfly. This is actually a Polyphemus Moth, one of the Giant Silk Moths and she is a female full of eggs. Polyphemus Moths are found throughout much of North America and they are a beautiful species. The common name refers to the large eyespot on each underwing, though the moth actually has two spots and the mythological cyclops Polyphemus only had one. When the moth is startled by a predator and it reveals the eyespots, the predator gets the impression it is about to become the prey and it will quickly depart, allowing the moth to live. Giant Silk Moths only live a few days and do not feed as adults. Their sole goal as adults is to mate and perpetuate the species.
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