CLOSED: For 2 days; these brown *leaves* won't be blown away....

On a closer look, these are what I found on my young brug. I'll post these here, as well as the brug's forum to identify these beautiful moths.
Please help I.D.

How clever was that? I've forgotten the pic......

Polyphemus Moth - Antheraea polyphemus
Nice!

Thank you Claypa; it sure did help to get a photo accompaying the question, didn't it. :-)

Haha...no, I didn't want to guess at what they were - and I don't see Brugmansia on their list of host plants. But maybe they're just visiting.

Oh, how cool is that? Ok, let's see what other host plants? I've hibiscus, morning glory, adenium, allamanda, A brug in blooms. Several tropicals ...oooh yes, Sweet Autumn Clematis is blooming as well on the trellis.

These moths' larvae eat all the common harwood / deciduous tree's leaves

Ah hah, oaks, gums, various kinds, Chinese Parasols, Magnolia....on and on....Thanks. Ooh, how about nectar? What type of flowers for nectar for the adult moths? Is there a book on this I can put on my Santa's x-max's wish-list? I'd love to find out. Thanks

These moths do not have functional mouth parts....they do not feed. Just breed and die after a few days. Only the caterpillars eat. Sorry....it's a shame, I know.

I don't think any adult silk moths eat anything at all


http://www.cirrusimage.com/polyphemus_moth.htm

http://www.insectcompany.com/silkmoth/zpolmoth.htm

That's the way I understand it too....those big, colorful beauties are only around for a short little life.

This includes the
Luna Moth
Regal Moth
Imperial Moth

and several others...

Well dudes/dudettes; doesn't it all remind us of "Only the good dies young?" By Billy Joe? lol, lol. If ya'll don't mind. I'd like to keep this thread opens so others can visit? Thanks.

oh how awesome not only to find a Polyphemus but a pair mating and getting pics. Big congrats

DonnaB; it sure was my lucky day. I'm absolutely trilled. Many thanks goes to Claypa. This evening, one of the two has moved on. The other's still "hypernating" on a tropical foliage shrub. :-)

probably the female. Is her anteanne narrow??? If so put her in a paper bag. She will lay her eggs in it and you can raise the caterpillars to cocoon if you want. I am feedling mine Wax Myrtle but they eat lots of other trees leaves too. I ordered eggs so I could raise some

You're welcome! But these silk moths aren't too hard to ID. Especially when you add the picture, it's easy! LOL And there aren't very many species in the U.S.
What a sight that must have been!
Mike

Donnab; Raising eggs? Oooh, is there any website that I can visit to learn more about this? I'm nervuous if I don't do it right. I may just let nature take care of things. I'm grateful I get to witness such beauty. I'll take more pic. if this Mom-to-be still around in the morning. :-) (will check her anteanne too).
Kim

go to the butterfly forum and look at our post. We all have lots of info on raising them and how to make very cheap cages to raise them in

here is the link http://davesgarden.com/forums/f/bbb/all/

My pretty Moths are happily on their way...no sight of them this morning. Thanks all for sharing the info.