saturniid moth

saturniid moth

 or giant silkworm moth

Polyphemus moth (Antheraea polyphemus)

(credit: William E. Ferguson)

Any of some 800 moth species of the principally tropical family Saturniidae. Adults have a stout, hairy body and broad wings, often vividly coloured and patterned. Most species have a central eyespot on each wing. Among the saturniids are the io moth (Automeris io); the giant cecropia moth (Hyalophora cecropia), the largest moth native to North America, with a wingspan of 6 in. (15 cm); several species of Antheraea that are used as a source of commercial silk; the emperor moth (Saturnia pavonia); and the luna moth.