Walked up the stairs to work today and almost stepped on this. I thought it was a bird. This has to be the largest moth, or flying bug I've ever seen.
I put him in a plastic bag and brought him home. I expect he had died yesterday when the crop duster flew over the warehouse squirtin' its poison.
I have searched the web and found out that this is a Polyphemus Moth. They can get up to 5 1/2 inches. This one I measured at 5 1/4. I don't know how prolific they are in Oregon, but I found one for sure.
I've called him Marty. He's rather handsome. Addie does NOT think he's handsome at all. And since I had him in a little sandwich bag I had found in my desk, she was fearful I had brought it home for our dinner.
He's got a little blemish in his wing, but otherwise is a perfect specimen. Not that I'm a bug-ologist or anything. Just thought it was freaky.
I can't wait to show it to my son and watch him squeal.
Learn more at the Bug Guide site
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