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 217 - 240 of 1076 verified sightings
Observation date: Sep 06, 2018
Submitted by: Gary The Villages
Region: Sumter County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Sep 06, 2018
Observation date: Aug 29, 2018
Submitted by: Mumofboys
Region: Sevier County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: dbruce
Verified date: Sep 04, 2018
Observation date: Sep 03, 2018
Submitted by: 2pints
Region: Warren County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Sep 03, 2018
Observation date: Sep 03, 2018
Submitted by: Elissalee12
Region: Bedford County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Sep 03, 2018
Observation date: Sep 14, 2007
Submitted by: themooer1
Region: Howard County, Maryland, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Aug 31, 2018
Observation date: Aug 30, 2018
Submitted by: emerson
Region: Holmes County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Aug 30, 2018
Observation date: Jul 08, 2018
Submitted by: thomasrykatd
Region: Lowndes County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Aug 30, 2018
Observation date: Aug 29, 2018
Submitted by: David Graff
Region: Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Aug 29, 2018
Observation date: Aug 10, 2018
Submitted by: Bogfinder
Region: Northampton County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Aug 14, 2018
Observation date: Aug 06, 2018
Submitted by: petersbk
Region: Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Aug 10, 2018
Observation date: Sep 17, 2017
Submitted by: dlb1117
Region: Forrest County, Mississippi, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Aug 01, 2018
Observation date: Jul 28, 2018
Submitted by: Stevi.Wood
Region: Lawrence County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 29, 2018
Observation date: Jul 27, 2018
Submitted by: hlm080952
Region: Roanoke, Virginia, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 28, 2018
Observation date: Jul 26, 2017
Submitted by: cskipper
Region: Garrett County, Maryland, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 26, 2018
Observation date: Jul 26, 2018
Submitted by: MothLady41
Region: DeSoto County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jul 26, 2018
Observation date: Jul 21, 2018
Submitted by: E.h8
Region: Morris County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jul 21, 2018
Observation date: Jul 20, 2018
Submitted by: stokesj797@hotm...
Region: Brunswick County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 20, 2018
Observation date: Jul 10, 2018
Submitted by: Quaker state mothing
Region: Tucker County, West Virginia, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jul 20, 2018
Observation date: Jul 13, 2018
Submitted by: Barb Elliot
Region: Delaware County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jul 15, 2018
Observation date: Jul 11, 2018
Submitted by: Grommet
Region: Surry County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 15, 2018
Observation date: Jul 12, 2018
Submitted by: rickardc30
Region: Pender County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 13, 2018
Observation date: Jul 12, 2018
Submitted by: KelseyMarie
Region: Virginia, Washington County, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 13, 2018
Observation date: Jul 17, 2017
Submitted by: nch5013
Region: Jackson County, West Virginia, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jul 11, 2018
Observation date: Jul 10, 2018
Submitted by: Chrismcswain
Region: Oconee County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 10, 2018
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