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 1 - 24 of 1076 verified sightings
Observation date: Jul 25, 2025
Submitted by: Michelleb2462
Region: Cobb County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Sep 29, 2025
Observation date: Sep 07, 2025
Submitted by: Ozark_Bill
Region: St. Louis County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: Ozark_Bill
Verified date: Sep 09, 2025
Observation date: Jul 13, 2021
Submitted by: Michele Pollock
Region: Brown County, Indiana, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Sep 02, 2025
Observation date: Aug 04, 2025
Submitted by: Melinda Bell
Region: Sumner County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Aug 09, 2025
Observation date: Aug 06, 2025
Submitted by: Thesplee
Region: Boone County, Arkansas, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Aug 06, 2025
Observation date: Jul 24, 2025
Submitted by: Ozark_Bill
Region: St. Louis County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jul 30, 2025
Observation date: Jul 02, 2025
Submitted by: Ksteele1978@gma...
Region: Georgia, Stephens County, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Jul 20, 2025
Observation date: Jul 06, 2025
Submitted by: firewoman
Region: Fayette County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Jul 20, 2025
Observation date: Aug 09, 2017
Submitted by: Rob Williams
Region: Leon County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jul 15, 2025
Observation date: Sep 01, 2024
Submitted by: Falcon5177
Region: Douglas County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Jul 04, 2025
Observation date: Jun 30, 2025
Submitted by: vvryabyy
Region: Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jun 30, 2025
Observation date: Jun 21, 2025
Submitted by: KYWomaninNC25
Region: Pamlico County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jun 21, 2025
Observation date: May 30, 2025
Submitted by: John LeBlanc
Region: Chesterfield County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: May 31, 2025
Observation date: Jul 18, 2013
Submitted by: pipher_rowan
Region: Wayne County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Apr 25, 2025
Observation date: Jun 11, 2023
Submitted by: eeparker
Region: Van Buren County, Arkansas, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Mar 18, 2025
Observation date: Jun 01, 2024
Submitted by: Cheryl King
Region: Madison County, Arkansas, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Mar 18, 2025
Observation date: Sep 01, 2023
Submitted by: ShannonR
Region: Baxter County, Arkansas, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Mar 18, 2025
Observation date: Jul 12, 2024
Submitted by: Jbanks
Region: Cullman County, Alabama, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Sep 05, 2024
Observation date: Jul 24, 2024
Submitted by: pecheur5
Region: Maryland, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jul 25, 2024
Observation date: Jul 20, 2024
Submitted by: MWatkins2000
Region: Nelson County, Kentucky, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 22, 2024
Observation date: Jul 16, 2024
Submitted by: scissorfingers
Region: Braxton County, West Virginia, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jul 16, 2024
Observation date: Jul 15, 2024
Submitted by: Jbramble9756
Region: Scott County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 15, 2024
Observation date: Jul 13, 2024
Submitted by: pgladstone
Region: Buncombe County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 15, 2024
Observation date: Jul 10, 2024
Submitted by: Kegler777
Region: Stokes County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 13, 2024
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