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 553 - 576 of 1076 verified sightings
Observation date: Jul 15, 2012
Submitted by: Margalot
Region: Cobb County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Aug 31, 2012
Observation date: Aug 25, 2012
Submitted by: KShiff
Region: Staunton, Virginia, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Aug 25, 2012
Observation date: Aug 25, 2012
Submitted by: flapidus
Region: Prince Georges County, Maryland, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Aug 25, 2012
Observation date: Aug 25, 2012
Submitted by: Katieann
Region: Columbia County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Aug 25, 2012
Observation date: Jul 11, 2012
Submitted by: rdhealy1951@aol.com
Region: Hardin County, Kentucky, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Aug 17, 2012
Observation date: Jul 26, 2012
Submitted by: tink898
Region: Greenville County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Aug 16, 2012
Observation date: Aug 16, 2012
Submitted by: hhdtoadhollow
Region: Chester County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Aug 16, 2012
Observation date: Aug 12, 2012
Submitted by: Cee
Region: Franklin County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Aug 12, 2012
Observation date: Aug 10, 2012
Submitted by: Adrienne1331
Region: Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Aug 12, 2012
Observation date: Aug 11, 2012
Submitted by: JeanEvoy
Region: DeSoto County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Aug 12, 2012
Observation date: Aug 04, 2012
Submitted by: curtis.lehman
Region: Washington County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Aug 04, 2012
Observation date: Jul 28, 2012
Submitted by: amccleaster9824
Region: Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jul 28, 2012
Observation date: Jul 13, 2012
Submitted by: jupmorgan52
Region: Perry County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 27, 2012
Observation date: Jul 24, 2012
Submitted by: Driftwood
Region: Charleston County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 24, 2012
Observation date: Jul 23, 2012
Submitted by: HisGemini
Region: North Carolina, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 23, 2012
Observation date: Jul 13, 2012
Submitted by: Chip Krilowicz
Region: Burlington County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: H.D. McGuinness
Verified date: Jul 23, 2012
Observation date: Jul 23, 2012
Submitted by: SAA
Region: Camden County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Jul 23, 2012
Observation date: Jul 19, 2012
Submitted by: lisa.quirk
Region: Maryland, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 22, 2012
Observation date: Jul 13, 2012
Submitted by: Jeff Trahan
Region: Dickson County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Jul 19, 2012
Observation date: Sep 14, 2008
Submitted by: Roger Boardley
Region: Fayette County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jul 18, 2012
Observation date: Jul 18, 2012
Submitted by: johnmdaleyatc
Region: Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jul 18, 2012
Observation date: Jul 14, 2012
Submitted by: Paukenwirbel
Region: Iredell County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 16, 2012
Observation date: Jul 15, 2012
Submitted by: doberlin
Region: Buncombe County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 15, 2012
Observation date: Jun 23, 2000
Submitted by: magnunc
Region: Howard County, Maryland, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 14, 2012
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