Polyphemus Moth vs Riband Wave Moth

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Polyphemus Moth Riband Wave Moth
Scientific Name Antheraea polyphemus Idaea aversata
Order Lepidoptera Lepidoptera
Family Saturniidae Geometridae
Size Wingspan 100-150mm 26-33 mm wingspan
Habitat Woodlands Farmland
Diet Herbivores Herbivores
Regions North America Europe, Western Asia
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Polyphemus Moth

A large tan moth with prominent purple-ringed eyespots on its hindwings. It is named after the cyclops Polyphemus from Greek mythology.

💡

Did You Know?

A single caterpillar can eat 86000 times its weight in food in the two months before it pupates.

Riband Wave Moth

A small greyish moth occurring in both banded and plain forms. The banded form has a conspicuous dark central band across the forewings.

💡

Did You Know?

Both the banded and plain forms can emerge from the same brood of eggs.