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 265 - 288 of 1076 verified sightings
Observation date: Sep 08, 2017
Submitted by: Sframer
Region: Roanoke, Virginia, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Sep 09, 2017
Observation date: Sep 09, 2017
Submitted by: spiker89
Region: Pickens County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Sep 09, 2017
Observation date: Sep 04, 2017
Submitted by: PattyeAyn
Region: Licking County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Sep 04, 2017
Observation date: Aug 29, 2017
Submitted by: Don Baradell
Region: Guilford County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Aug 30, 2017
Observation date: Aug 28, 2017
Submitted by: jonpam
Region: Lake County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Aug 28, 2017
Observation date: Aug 27, 2017
Submitted by: deebarn
Region: Washington County, Maryland, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Aug 28, 2017
Observation date: Aug 27, 2017
Submitted by: RICHARD HLAVACEK
Region: Chester County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Aug 28, 2017
Observation date: Aug 27, 2017
Submitted by: eattaway92
Region: Jackson County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Aug 27, 2017
Observation date: Aug 23, 2017
Submitted by: iwhite
Region: Portsmouth, Virginia, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Aug 25, 2017
Observation date: Aug 23, 2017
Submitted by: gjkoppel
Region: Butler County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Aug 23, 2017
Observation date: Aug 19, 2017
Submitted by: Mothwatcher
Region: Harris County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Aug 19, 2017
Observation date: Aug 18, 2017
Submitted by: lkennedywilson
Region: St. Johns County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Aug 18, 2017
Observation date: Aug 17, 2017
Submitted by: David Rye
Region: Putnam County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Aug 18, 2017
Observation date: Aug 17, 2017
Submitted by: StormyE
Region: Roanoke, Virginia, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Aug 17, 2017
Observation date: Aug 16, 2017
Submitted by: chuchelo
Region: Monroe County, Indiana, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Aug 16, 2017
Observation date: Aug 16, 2017
Submitted by: codysplants
Region: Leon County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Aug 16, 2017
Observation date: Aug 14, 2017
Submitted by: Dbisti
Region: Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Aug 14, 2017
Observation date: Sep 22, 2013
Submitted by: Nedoreno
Region: Gaston County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Aug 11, 2017
Observation date: Jul 07, 2017
Submitted by: epicmole
Region: Anderson County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Aug 08, 2017
Observation date: Aug 28, 2013
Submitted by: beam1127
Region: Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Aug 08, 2017
Observation date: Aug 01, 2017
Submitted by: Crisfinger
Region: Blount County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: Ken Childs
Verified date: Aug 04, 2017
Observation date: Aug 04, 2017
Submitted by: pearlicue
Region: Clermont County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Aug 04, 2017
Observation date: Aug 03, 2017
Submitted by: Carol Thornton-...
Region: Orange County, Indiana, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Aug 04, 2017
Observation date: Aug 02, 2017
Submitted by: Kat222
Region: Hamilton County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Aug 02, 2017
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