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 121 - 144 of 1076 verified sightings
Observation date: Sep 01, 2020
Submitted by: pabirdermoore
Region: Clarion County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Sep 02, 2020
Observation date: Jul 21, 2020
Submitted by: Stinkerroadmann
Region: Hunterdon County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Sep 02, 2020
Observation date: Jul 18, 2020
Submitted by: Sunny4x4
Region: Sussex County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Aug 28, 2020
Observation date: Aug 19, 2020
Submitted by: Ohio97
Region: Montgomery County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Aug 20, 2020
Observation date: Aug 17, 2020
Submitted by: wehrto1615
Region: Berks County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Aug 18, 2020
Observation date: Aug 16, 2020
Submitted by: Suwannee101
Region: Lyon County, Kentucky, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Aug 17, 2020
Observation date: Aug 06, 2020
Submitted by: Les in Ohio
Region: Guernsey County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Aug 07, 2020
Observation date: Aug 02, 2020
Submitted by: munias
Region: Somerset County, Maryland, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Aug 02, 2020
Observation date: Jul 31, 2020
Submitted by: Cyrus Li
Region: Montgomery County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Aug 01, 2020
Observation date: Jul 16, 2020
Submitted by: The Bruha
Region: Gwinnett County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Jul 30, 2020
Observation date: Jul 27, 2020
Submitted by: Tbmcmurry
Region: Crawford County, Kansas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Jul 29, 2020
Observation date: Jul 27, 2020
Submitted by: Cyrus Li
Region: Montgomery County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 28, 2020
Observation date: Jul 24, 2020
Submitted by: Mom2ss
Region: Campbell County, Kentucky, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 27, 2020
Observation date: Jul 25, 2020
Submitted by: meadowglenfarm
Region: Scott County, Indiana, United States
Verified by: Howell_Curtis
Verified date: Jul 25, 2020
Observation date: Jul 23, 2020
Submitted by: Rich Civil
Region: Chester County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jul 23, 2020
Observation date: Jul 22, 2020
Submitted by: Poc
Region: Berkeley County, West Virginia, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jul 22, 2020
Observation date: Jul 18, 2020
Submitted by: Kandis
Region: Prince William County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 22, 2020
Observation date: Jul 22, 2020
Submitted by: Mary June
Region: Tuscarawas County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 22, 2020
Observation date: Jul 18, 2020
Submitted by: abattisti
Region: Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jul 21, 2020
Observation date: Jul 20, 2020
Submitted by: Gcmoth2020
Region: Henry County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 21, 2020
Observation date: Jul 20, 2020
Submitted by: Kelly Searer
Region: Lebanon County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jul 21, 2020
Observation date: Jul 18, 2020
Submitted by: Cyrus Li
Region: Montgomery County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 19, 2020
Observation date: Jul 15, 2020
Submitted by: Dianairene
Region: Grant County, West Virginia, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jul 16, 2020
Observation date: Jul 12, 2020
Submitted by: Jamieperry
Region: Floyd County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Jul 12, 2020
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