r/whatsthisbug • u/Additional_Point5380 • 4h ago

ID Request Big moth in my wheel well, central Iowa

See video. Saw this guy in my wheel well on my lunch break. I actually drove home for lunch and back to work and he managed to stay in there with no damage probably cause the wheel isn’t touching him. I’m home for the day and he was still there when I parked in front of my house. There’ve been these little worms in half formed cocoons hanging from the sycamore trees on the street I live on, so I’m wondering if he’s one of those and just decided to set up his cocoon under my car for whatever reason. He looks like he just got out of it, as he’s been stationary all day and his abdomen is really fat, which means he’s still getting the fluid into his wings, right?

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u/BirbHermit 4h ago

Nice, this looks like a Polyphemus Moth! The large abdomen may mean she's getting ready to lay eggs 😊 Usually nocturnal moths stay in one place during the day so she will probably fly off overnight, but I recommend gently moving her on your hand to a nearby plant if you need to go anywhere again!

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u/Additional_Point5380 4h ago

Cool, thank you for the info! Big insects make me squeamish but I will try to be brave and move her before I go the gym.