Royal Walnut Moth
Citheronia regalis (Fabricius, 1793)
Family: Saturniidae
Subfamily: Ceratocampinae
Identification: Females are larger than males. Upperside of forewing is gray with red-orange veins and creamy yellow spots. Upperside of hindwing is orange with creamy yellow at the costa and inner margin.
Wing Span: 3 15/16 - 6 1/4 inches (10 - 16 cm).
Life History: Adults emerge in late evening and mate the following evening. Females begin laying eggs at dusk the next day, depositing them in groups of 1-3 on both sides of host plant leaves. Eggs hatch within 6-10 days, and the caterpillars (known as the Hickory Horned Devil) feed alone. Young caterpillars rest on the tops of leaves and resemble bird droppings, while older caterpillars appear menacing because they are very large and brightly colored with red "horns" near the head. Caterpillars pupate in a burrow in the soil.
Flight: One brood from May through mid-September.
Caterpillar Hosts: Hickories (Carya), pecan (C. illinoensis), butternut (Juglans cinerea), black walnut (J. nigra), sweet gum (Liquidambar styraciflua), persimmon (Diospyros virginiana), sumacs (Rhus), cultivated cotton (Gossypium), and others.
Adult Food: Adults do not feed.
Habitat: Deciduous woods.
Range: New York west through southern Michigan and Illinois to eastern Kansas; south to central Florida, the Gulf states, and east Texas.
Conservation: Not usually required.
NCGR: G5 - Demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.
Management Needs: None reported.
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 49 - 72 of 1046 verified sightings
Observation date: Jun 28, 2022
Submitted by: Watermelonstand
Region: Suwannee County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jun 28, 2022
Observation date: Jun 08, 2022
Submitted by: Trimmel
Region: Warren County, Kentucky, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jun 08, 2022
Observation date: Jun 03, 2022
Submitted by: pdean61
Region: Conway County, Arkansas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Jun 08, 2022
Observation date: Jun 03, 2022
Submitted by: Bmcfadden2000
Region: Marshall County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jun 04, 2022
Observation date: May 28, 2022
Submitted by: Lori J
Region: Montgomery County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: May 28, 2022
Observation date: Sep 04, 2021
Submitted by: Nina Moring
Region: Gwinnett County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Feb 13, 2022
Observation date: Aug 09, 2021
Submitted by: Allen B
Region: Fentress County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: Allen B
Verified date: Dec 22, 2021
Observation date: Jul 18, 2021
Submitted by: Allen B
Region: Fentress County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: Allen B
Verified date: Dec 22, 2021
Observation date: Aug 03, 2021
Submitted by: Les in Ohio
Region: Guernsey County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Oct 25, 2021
Observation date: Sep 02, 2021
Submitted by: rstarnes
Region: Walker County, Alabama, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Sep 11, 2021
Observation date: Aug 28, 2021
Submitted by: snakeowl
Region: Fulton County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Sep 06, 2021
Observation date: Sep 02, 2021
Submitted by: ItsScienceGuyZ
Region: Pickens County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Sep 03, 2021
Observation date: Aug 17, 2021
Submitted by: Nclaurir
Region: Hernando County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Aug 17, 2021
Observation date: Aug 06, 2021
Submitted by: AbbyOf3
Region: Habersham County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Aug 12, 2021
Observation date: Jun 16, 2021
Submitted by: EMM
Region: Calvert County, Maryland, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Aug 10, 2021
Observation date: Jul 27, 2021
Submitted by: RRicheson
Region: Stone County, Arkansas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Jul 29, 2021
Observation date: Jul 25, 2021
Submitted by: ColeKochanowski
Region: Fairfax County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 26, 2021
Observation date: Jul 22, 2021
Submitted by: Momo.fountain
Region: Alachua County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jul 22, 2021
Observation date: Jul 09, 2021
Submitted by: tirvine2020
Region: Alachua County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jul 22, 2021
Observation date: Jul 20, 2021
Submitted by: abbeybevans23
Region: Hamilton County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 21, 2021
Observation date: Jul 17, 2021
Submitted by: LJKinne
Region: Maryland, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 17, 2021
Observation date: Jul 14, 2021
Submitted by: katieb7119
Region: Greenville County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 14, 2021
Observation date: Jul 13, 2021
Submitted by: Houston9311
Region: Macon County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 14, 2021
Observation date: Jul 11, 2021
Submitted by: randomocitymakers
Region: Greenville County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 12, 2021
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