Moved from Giant Silkworm and Royal Moths.

This is a polyphemus cocoon. It looks strange and has a hole in the top because the moth has eclosed.

Although much of the given info (location & maple) would suggest polyphemus, a couple of the cocoon characteristics and certainly the texture of the cocoon seem very wrong for that species. Generally, the cocoon of the polyphemus is compact and ovoid - even if shrouded in leaves, areas of the cocoon usually lack that papery looking rugose surface seen here.

At first glance, it looks like one of the Attacini types with an anterior exit valve (possibly a ~Callosamia species). I'm basing these comments on pers. observations and experience rearing many of the North American Saturniid species (incl. polyphemus, promethia, angulifera and securifera)

On rare occasion, the cocoons of Callosamia angulifera may be light in color, "puffy" and attached by silking the petiole of a leaf to a branch as seen here, but that is not common for that species. However, with that said...I am inclined to suspect C. angulifera in this case given locality.

In contrast, the cocoons of Callosamia securifera are often similar, if not identical to the image here. The cocoons of C. securifera are almost always "puffy", light colored, and attached to the host; however, there are problems with C. securifera as an option....

1) the locality (Cumberland Mountain)
C. securifera is known to be a lowland species and mountain distributions seem unlikely.

2) plant community (?)
What tree species are present at that site - C. securifera is a specialist on Magnolia virginiana and to my knowledge and experience it is very difficult to get the larvae of this species to eat anything else (very rare exceptions in older larvae).

3) The plant to which the cocoon is attached
Maple is not the host of C. securifera which quite often spins directly on its host, Sweetbay.

Hence, the above discussion points seem to nullify C. securifera as an option.

Can you add any info?
How big was the cocoon?
Was this image taken in a "bottomland or river environment"?
Were there any Sweetbay trees (Magnolia virginiana) present?

NOTE: Saturniids often spin cocoons on nearby plants and objects - so the cocoon on Maple does not indicate maple was the host.
There are scattered reports of C. securifera beyond the noted range; whether these are misidentifications of C. angulifera or valid reports does raise the question. There is no doubt securifera can occupy isolated locations beyond the known range provided its host is present and in adequate numbers.

Hope the above helps...at least a little.
b.t.w. it's always good to get an image that takes thought

Moved from Unidentified Pupae and Cocoons.

Moved from Moths.

Moved from ID Request.