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 601 - 624 of 1076 verified sightings
Observation date: Aug 20, 2011
Submitted by: Rajincajun504
Region: East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Jan 12, 2012
Observation date: Jul 12, 2005
Submitted by: bustertaft
Region: Forsyth County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Dec 12, 2011
Observation date: Sep 05, 2011
Submitted by: RRNoble
Region: Wake County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Oct 04, 2011
Observation date: May 24, 2011
Submitted by: hearthbeats
Region: Montgomery County, Arkansas, United States
Verified by: lorispencer
Verified date: Sep 20, 2011
Observation date: Jul 14, 2011
Submitted by: Captngeetch
Region: Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: H.D. McGuinness
Verified date: Sep 08, 2011
Observation date: Aug 27, 2011
Submitted by: bandit190
Region: Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Sep 01, 2011
Observation date: Aug 03, 2011
Submitted by: Numonik
Region: Cobb County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Aug 30, 2011
Observation date: Jul 17, 2011
Submitted by: rdhealy1951@aol.com
Region: Hardin County, Kentucky, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Aug 25, 2011
Observation date: Aug 22, 2011
Submitted by: Howell_Curtis
Region: Harrison County, Indiana, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Aug 22, 2011
Observation date: Jul 23, 2011
Submitted by: kent
Region: Madison County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: BAMONA (Ryan St. Laurent)
Verified date: Aug 17, 2011
Observation date: Aug 06, 2011
Submitted by: crystalmae19805
Region: New Castle County, Delaware, United States
Verified by: richardhsmith
Verified date: Aug 11, 2011
Observation date: Aug 07, 2011
Submitted by: OhioCaterpillar
Region: Harrison County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Aug 11, 2011
Observation date: Jul 01, 2011
Submitted by: batwing
Region: Montgomery County, Maryland, United States
Verified by: richardhsmith
Verified date: Aug 11, 2011
Observation date: Jul 23, 2011
Submitted by: DANIBEAU
Region: Burlington County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Aug 09, 2011
Observation date: Jul 24, 2011
Submitted by: mamarunsthefarm
Region: Hunterdon County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Aug 03, 2011
Observation date: Jul 26, 2011
Submitted by: Bombardierbob
Region: Hunterdon County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Aug 02, 2011
Observation date: Jul 13, 2004
Submitted by: Shedstomper
Region: Logan County, West Virginia, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Aug 02, 2011
Observation date: Jul 28, 2011
Submitted by: mstonge
Region: Fulton County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Aug 02, 2011
Observation date: Jul 30, 2011
Submitted by: 724tbone
Region: Butler County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Aug 01, 2011
Observation date: Jul 14, 2011
Submitted by: blackmangopit
Region: Middlesex County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: H.D. McGuinness
Verified date: Jul 30, 2011
Observation date: Jul 03, 2011
Submitted by: troymoga
Region: Cobb County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Jul 28, 2011
Observation date: Jul 27, 2011
Submitted by: katluman
Region: Muskingum County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 27, 2011
Observation date: Jul 24, 2011
Submitted by: my77frogs
Region: Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 27, 2011
Observation date: Jul 23, 2011
Submitted by: uugghh
Region: Braxton County, West Virginia, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jul 27, 2011
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