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 985 - 1008 of 1076 verified sightings
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Region: Greene County, Tennessee, United States
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Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
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Region: Middlesex County, Connecticut, United States
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Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
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Region: McPherson County, Kansas, United States
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Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
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Region: Warren County, Mississippi, United States
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Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
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Region: Morgan County, Ohio, United States
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Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
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Region: Fairfax County, Virginia, United States
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Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
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Region: Bradford County, Florida, United States
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Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
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Region: Breathitt County, Kentucky, United States
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Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
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Region: Buncombe County, North Carolina, United States
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Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
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Region: Seneca County, Ohio, United States
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Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
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Region: Prince William County, Virginia, United States
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Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
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Region: Liberty County, Florida, United States
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Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
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Region: Lyon County, Kentucky, United States
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Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
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Region: Sarpy County, Nebraska, United States
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Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
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Region: Darke County, Ohio, United States
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Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
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Region: Greenbrier County, West Virginia, United States
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Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
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Region: Hall County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
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Region: Pike County, Kentucky, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
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Region: Albany County, New York, United States
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Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
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Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
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Region: Monongalia County, West Virginia, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
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Region: Effingham County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
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Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Whitley County, Kentucky, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Orange County, New York, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
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