Comments for huge brown moth (Giant silkworm moth)
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Comments for
huge brown moth (Giant silkworm moth)

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silkworm moth
by: tara walker

yep i think thats it. i looked at the picture. i actually have a picture i cropped and zoomed in on and you can see the eyes on the top wings...thanks a bunch!

Giant silkworm moth - Polyphemus moth
by: Moni

Tara
From your description and the photo my guess is that it is a Polyphemus moth. The size says it is one of the giant silkworm moths family Saturniidae.
The angle and photo thru the window makes it hard to be positive. If you had touched it enough to move it a little you would have probably seen the hind wings have an 'eye' on each wing. They usually sit with the eyes showing so they look like a predator owl.
The Polyphemus has the same coloration and spots near the head on each wing so I am pretty sure this is your moth.
These are common moths thru out North America. They are found near deciduous forests, orchards, some wetlands. Adults are often found coming to lights at night so perhaps this one came in and as happens they sit during the day then fly away the next evening.
The large green larvae feed on leaves of broad-leaved trees and shrubs, including birch, grape, hickory, maple, oak, willow, and members of the rose family.
Adults do not feed.

Here are some images to see if they look similar to you.
http://bugguide.net/node/view/427

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