Moth Identification - Ask Extension
I saw this moth in my tree this morning. What kind of moth is it, I’ve never seen it before. I thought it was a type of Cecropia moth.
Knowledgebase
Moth Identification #760177
Asked July 06, 2021, 7:04 AM EDT
I saw this moth in my tree this morning. What kind of moth is it, I’ve never seen it before. I thought it was a type of Cecropia moth.
Wayne County Michigan
Expert Response
That one is called the polyphemus moth. It is in the same family as the cecropia moth. It is a native insect, the caterpillars feed on the leaves of many species of broadleaved trees, most often on maples, birches or oaks. The numbers of these are always low, they never cause significant harm to trees.
