Antheraea oculea

Neumoegen, 1883

Western Polyphemus Moth, Arizona Polyphemus Moth

Antheraea oculea is a large silkmoth in the Saturniidae, commonly known as the Western Polyphemus or Arizona Polyphemus Moth. It is found in Central America and North America, occupying the geographic range where the closely related Antheraea polyphemus is absent. The is part of the Antheraea, which includes other giant silk moths known for producing wild silk. The MONA (Moths of North America) or Hodges number for this species is 7757.1.

Antheraea oculea by (c) Annika Lindqvist, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Annika Lindqvist. Used under a CC-BY license.

Antheraea oculea m by JohnSka. Used under a CC BY-SA 3.0 license.

Western Polyphemus Moth Upper Huachuca Canyon Sierra Vista AZ 2018-08-05 10-25-29 (29075716587) by Bettina Arrigoni. Used under a CC BY 2.0 license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Antheraea oculea: /ænˈθɛ.ɹiːə ˈɒk.jʊ.liːə/

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Identification

Antheraea oculea is distinguished from the widespread Antheraea polyphemus by geographic range, with A. oculea occurring in Arizona and adjacent regions where A. polyphemus is absent. The two are closely related and share the characteristic large eyespots on the hindwings that give the 'Polyphemus' group its . Specific wing pattern differences between A. oculea and A. polyphemus have been noted by lepidopterists, though detailed comparative descriptions are limited in available sources.

Images

Distribution

Central America and North America. GBIF records confirm presence in Middle America and North America. The is particularly associated with the southwestern United States, including Arizona.

Human Relevance

As a member of the Antheraea, A. oculea is related to used in wild silk production (tussah silk), though A. oculea itself is not documented as a commercial silk source. The closely related Antheraea polyphemus is frequently reared by hobbyists and educators, and A. oculea likely shares similar potential for educational display.

Similar Taxa

Antheraea polyphemusClosely related with overlapping ('Polyphemus '); distinguished primarily by geographic range, with A. polyphemus absent from Arizona and the southwestern range of A. oculea

More Details

Taxonomic Note

Antheraea oculea was described by Neumoegen in 1883. It is sometimes treated as a or synonym of Antheraea polyphemus in older literature, but is currently recognized as a distinct .

Catalog Reference

The is cataloged with MONA/Hodges number 7757.1 in the of North America database.