Cecropia silkmoth
Hyalophora cecropia (Linnaeus, 1758)
Family: Saturniidae
Subfamily: Saturniinae
Identification: Body is red with a white collar and white bands on the abdomen. Wings are dark brown with white hairlike scales giving a frosted appearance; forewings are red at the base. Crescent spots and the area outside the postmedian line are red on all wings.
Wing Span: 4 5/16 - 5 7/8 inches (11 - 15 cm).
Life History: Females lay rows of 2-6 eggs on both sides of the leaves of small host trees or shrubs. Eggs hatch in 10-14 days. Young caterpillars feed in groups on leaves; older caterpillars are solitary. The cocoon is attached along its full length to a twig; to escape predation by rodents and birds, the cocoon is usually constructed in a dark, protected area.
Flight: One flight from March-July in most of the range; two flights in the Midwest, from May-early June and then 2 weeks later.
Caterpillar Hosts: Various trees and shrubs including box elder (Acer negundo), sugar maple (Acer saccharinum), wild cherries and plums (Prunus), apples (Malus), alder and birch (Betulaceae), dogwoods (Cornus), and willows (Salix).
Adult Food: Adults do not feed.
Habitat: Successional habitats in many areas including urban and suburban environments.
Range: Nova Scotia and Maine south to Florida; west across southern Canada and the eastern United States to the Rocky Mountains.
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.
Comments: NULL
Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 1857 verified sightings
Observation date: Sep 01, 2019
Submitted by: Laparker
Region: Burlington County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Sep 09, 2019
Observation date: Sep 06, 2019
Submitted by: Bwasler
Region: Somerset County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Sep 06, 2019
Observation date: Sep 01, 2019
Submitted by: Weazy3405
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Sep 02, 2019
Observation date: Sep 01, 2019
Submitted by: Weazy3405
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Sep 02, 2019
Observation date: Aug 08, 2019
Submitted by: Sharon635
Region: Scott County, Iowa, United States
Verified by: jamesdurbin
Verified date: Aug 27, 2019
Observation date: Aug 20, 2019
Submitted by: Joetart
Region: Bucks County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Aug 21, 2019
Observation date: Aug 19, 2019
Submitted by: Ldlmt
Region: Monroe County, New York, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Aug 20, 2019
Observation date: Aug 16, 2019
Submitted by: christahay
Region: Albany County, New York, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Aug 16, 2019
Observation date: Jun 19, 2019
Submitted by: kristasessions
Region: Cortland County, New York, United States
Verified by: Sue Gregoire
Verified date: Aug 16, 2019
Observation date: Aug 12, 2019
Submitted by: talmendinger
Region: Somerset County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Aug 13, 2019
Observation date: Aug 12, 2019
Submitted by: SZAM
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Aug 12, 2019
Observation date: Aug 11, 2019
Submitted by: 1Creaturelover.
Region: Bucks County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Aug 11, 2019
Observation date: Aug 07, 2019
Submitted by: Bla4798
Region: Rock County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Aug 11, 2019
Observation date: Aug 08, 2019
Submitted by: Krista Cairns
Region: Saskatchewan, Canada
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Aug 11, 2019
Observation date: Aug 06, 2019
Submitted by: Betty Billick
Region: Lucas County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Aug 06, 2019
Observation date: May 28, 2019
Submitted by: jlettich@gmail.com
Region: Monroe County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jul 28, 2019
Observation date: Jul 01, 2019
Submitted by: Dakoele
Region: Plymouth County, Iowa, United States
Verified by: jamesdurbin
Verified date: Jul 17, 2019
Observation date: Jul 01, 2019
Submitted by: Dakoele
Region: Plymouth County, Iowa, United States
Verified by: jamesdurbin
Verified date: Jul 17, 2019
Observation date: Jul 15, 2019
Submitted by: Patton
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 16, 2019
Observation date: Jul 13, 2019
Submitted by: Keithkcgolf
Region: Minnehaha County, South Dakota, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jul 16, 2019
Observation date: Jun 13, 2019
Submitted by: kate.chap
Region: Manitoba, Canada
Verified by: chalicerae
Verified date: Jul 15, 2019
Observation date: Jul 06, 2019
Submitted by: Cor1
Region: Manitoba, Canada
Verified by: chalicerae
Verified date: Jul 15, 2019
Observation date: Jul 12, 2019
Submitted by: CharlieKim
Region: Lake County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 12, 2019
Observation date: Jul 07, 2019
Submitted by: Raptorgirl94
Region: Erie County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 08, 2019
- 1 of 78
- next ›