Polyphemus moth vs Regal moth

These two are easy to mix up. Here's how to tell a Polyphemus moth from a regal moth, and whether either one bites or stings.

≠The key differences

Polyphemus has distinctive eye spots on the hindwings and a more buff-coloured wing background; its caterpillar lacks the large thoracic horns.

	Polyphemus moth	Regal moth
To humans	Non-toxic	Non-toxic
Size	11-15 cm wingspan	Wingspan about 95-155 mm
Colours	Reddish brown, Tan, Olive-brown, Sky blue (eyespot center)	Orange, Reddish brown, Cream, Black
Family	Saturniidae	Saturniidae
Habitat	Deciduous woodlands, suburban yards, parks and areas with host trees	Deciduous woodlands, forest edges, and suburban areas with host trees (hickory, walnut, sweetgum, sumac, persimmon, ash).
Range	Widespread across much of the United States and southern Canada, extending into Mexico	Eastern United States from New Jersey and Pennsylvania south to Florida, west to Missouri and eastern Texas; now rare or absent in New England, where it once occurred.
Active	Spring and early summer (one or two broods depending on latitude); adults are nocturnal	Adults fly at night in mid-summer (June-August) depending on latitude; larvae are most visible in summer months.
Pest?	No	No

Very large wingspan (11-15 cm) with broad, rounded wings
Distinctive large circular eyespot on each hindwing with a clear center ringed with yellow, blue and black
Overall reddish-brown to tan coloration with wavy crosslines across wings
Males with notably feathered antennae; females with thinner antennae

Large, heavy-bodied moth with grey-olive forewings marked by orange veins and yellow spots, and orange hindwings.
Very large green caterpillar with long, curved orange horns tipped in black on the thorax (hickory horned devil).
Larvae burrow into soil to pupate — look for them feeding high in host trees in summer before they disappear.

Polyphemus has distinctive eye spots on the hindwings and a more buff-coloured wing background; its caterpillar lacks the large thoracic horns.

Polyphemus moth: Non-toxic. Regal moth: Non-toxic. Polyphemus moths do not bite or sting. Adults do not bite or sting and are harmless.

Identification from photos is never certain: don't handle insects you can't identify, and get medical advice for bites, stings or allergic reactions.