Q: I found this giant moth in the yard. What is it?

A: You found a beautiful polyphemus moth! This flying creature is found in wooded areas.

Its equally distinctive caterpillar is bright green and up to three inches long. It feeds on oaks, maples, pines, birches, beech, yellow poplar, black cherry, sassafras, willows, hickories, elms, and American sycamore.

The moth spends most of its time up in the tree tops laying eggs so it is unusual to see one.

See also:
BugGuide