What the heck kind of giant moth is this?

[sixdogs]

Found this giant moth in the back yard this morning and don't think I have ever seen one this big. I let it loose under a tree so surely it's something deadly that will either wipe out my tomatoes or kill all my spruce trees. Ever seen one like this or this big?

 

[Code54]

I believe they are called a polyphemus moth - big suckers!

 

[teg]

Yes, ^^^what he said..b

 

[2LaneCruzer]

No way! It's a baby Mothra...and Godzilla is not far behind!

 

[DT86]

No way! It's a baby Mothra...and Godzilla is not far behind!

That's what I was thinking.

 

[MossRoad]

Its a cecropia moth.

Hyalophora cecropia - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[MossRoad]

Look at the "eyes" on the wings. They are half mooned shaped.

 

[Mousefield]

Had one of these at the lake in the middle of British Columbia when we stayed at a resort there about a month ago. Was about 6 inches across.

 

[sixdogs]

Its a cecropia moth.

Hyalophora cecropia - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

That's sure what it looks like and it likely blew in from the Canadian Rockies on a big storm we had last week. Sure doesn't look native to Ohio.

 

[Mendonsy]

I see one around here occasionally, but they aren't very common. Maybe one or two around in warm weather, some years none.