Cecropia silkmoth
Hyalophora cecropia (Linnaeus, 1758)
Family: Saturniidae
Subfamily: Saturniinae
Identification: Body is red with a white collar and white bands on the abdomen. Wings are dark brown with white hairlike scales giving a frosted appearance; forewings are red at the base. Crescent spots and the area outside the postmedian line are red on all wings.
Wing Span: 4 5/16 - 5 7/8 inches (11 - 15 cm).
Life History: Females lay rows of 2-6 eggs on both sides of the leaves of small host trees or shrubs. Eggs hatch in 10-14 days. Young caterpillars feed in groups on leaves; older caterpillars are solitary. The cocoon is attached along its full length to a twig; to escape predation by rodents and birds, the cocoon is usually constructed in a dark, protected area.
Flight: One flight from March-July in most of the range; two flights in the Midwest, from May-early June and then 2 weeks later.
Caterpillar Hosts: Various trees and shrubs including box elder (Acer negundo), sugar maple (Acer saccharinum), wild cherries and plums (Prunus), apples (Malus), alder and birch (Betulaceae), dogwoods (Cornus), and willows (Salix).
Adult Food: Adults do not feed.
Habitat: Successional habitats in many areas including urban and suburban environments.
Range: Nova Scotia and Maine south to Florida; west across southern Canada and the eastern United States to the Rocky Mountains.
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 1 - 24 of 2130 verified sightings
Observation date: May 27, 2016
Submitted by: Jay Jeffrey
Region: Pottawattamie County, Iowa, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Aug 31, 2025
Observation date: Jun 28, 2025
Submitted by: cucurbits
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 10, 2025
Observation date: Jul 06, 2025
Submitted by: Sunshine_44
Region: Alberta, Canada
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jul 08, 2025
Observation date: Jun 02, 2025
Submitted by: relpeK
Region: Waseca County, Minnesota, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Jul 05, 2025
Observation date: Jun 30, 2025
Submitted by: Hhorm
Region: Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jul 01, 2025
Observation date: Jun 29, 2025
Submitted by: Mary June
Region: Tuscarawas County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jun 30, 2025
Observation date: Jun 22, 2025
Submitted by: Gwen C
Region: Cumberland County, Maine, United States
Verified by: Sue Gregoire
Verified date: Jun 29, 2025
Observation date: Jun 02, 2025
Submitted by: Bo
Region: McHenry County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jun 08, 2025
Observation date: Jun 03, 2025
Submitted by: SweetD78
Region: Robertson County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jun 08, 2025
Observation date: Jun 01, 2025
Submitted by: Dwild
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jun 04, 2025
Observation date: May 26, 2025
Submitted by: Bkripto
Region: Beaver County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: May 27, 2025
Observation date: Apr 23, 2025
Submitted by: Odessad2016
Region: King William County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Apr 25, 2025
Observation date: Mar 14, 2025
Submitted by: Amcenhill
Region: Dutchess County, New York, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Mar 14, 2025
Observation date: Jun 16, 2024
Submitted by: J_Martineau
Region: Dawes County, Nebraska, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Nov 19, 2024
Observation date: May 27, 2024
Submitted by: WValentine
Region: Caddo Parish, Louisiana, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Sep 05, 2024
Observation date: Sep 01, 2024
Submitted by: Eedp
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Sep 01, 2024
Observation date: May 29, 2024
Submitted by: ButtahflyEtn37354
Region: Monroe County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Aug 31, 2024
Observation date: Aug 13, 2024
Submitted by: Emercer
Region: Onondaga County, New York, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Aug 14, 2024
Observation date: Aug 13, 2024
Submitted by: Emercer
Region: Onondaga County, New York, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Aug 14, 2024
Observation date: Jul 20, 2024
Submitted by: mourning.cloak
Region: Rice County, Minnesota, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jul 20, 2024
Observation date: Jul 10, 2024
Submitted by: Sublake
Region: Ozaukee County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Ilona L.
Verified date: Jul 13, 2024
Observation date: Jun 22, 2024
Submitted by: Brookhaus_Michigan
Region: Eaton County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jun 26, 2024
Observation date: Jun 22, 2024
Submitted by: Brookhaus_Michigan
Region: Eaton County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jun 26, 2024
Observation date: Jun 13, 2024
Submitted by: keyofpel
Region: Kennebec County, Maine, United States
Verified by: Sue Gregoire
Verified date: Jun 14, 2024
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