Antheraea polyphemus – Polyphemus Moth

A sequence of photos showing a Polyphemus caterpillar shedding its skin.  All photos were taken on 9/1/2008.

In the first photo you can see the dark brown head ‘cap’ that is about to fall off, leaving the fresh, whitish head.  The white head will darken to brown over a short time.

 

 

 

 

Betsy Higgins
Western Massachusetts

edited by Marcie O’Connor