Antheraea polyphemus olivacea
(Cockerell, 1914)

Antheraea polyphemus olivacea male, Mahogany Mountains, Leatham Hollow, Cache County, Utah,
June 15, 2020, 2030m, courtesy of Derek Bridgehouse.

TAXONOMY: Superfamily: Bombycoidea, Latreille, 1802 Family: Saturniidae, Boisduval, [1837] 1834 Subfamily: Saturniinae, Boisduval, [1837] 1834 Tribe: Saturniini, Boisduval, [1837] 1834 Genus: Antheraea, Hubner, 1819

DISTRIBUTION:

Antheraea polyphemus olivacea (wingspan approx. 139-170mm) flies in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado and Utah.

Tuskes, Tuttle and Collins feel this is a form of polyphemus rather than a subspecies since both forms, nominate polyphemus and olivacea, are sympatric in the area mentioned above.

Antheraea polyphemus olivacea, male, courtesy of Andrew Spicer.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

This species probably broods continuously. Derek Bridgehouse reports a June flight in Cache County, Utah.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Males use highly developed antennae to detect female scent which is distributed into the wind. Males fly into the wind in a zigzag pattern to detect the pheromone and subsequently locate the female.

EGGS, LARVAE, COCOONS AND PUPAE:

Larval Food Plants

It is hoped that this alphabetical listing followed by the common name of the anticipated foodplant will prove useful. The list is not exhaustive. Experimenting with closely related foodplants is worthwhile.

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