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 241 - 264 of 2147 verified sightings
Observation date: Jun 07, 2020
Submitted by: seraphim0213
Region: Waukesha County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Jun 14, 2020
Observation date: Jun 12, 2020
Submitted by: Patricia Ann Hunt
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jun 13, 2020
Observation date: Jun 11, 2020
Submitted by: reupurtbones
Region: Metcalfe County, Kentucky, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jun 12, 2020
Observation date: Jun 11, 2020
Submitted by: StacyLewis
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jun 11, 2020
Observation date: Jun 11, 2020
Submitted by: KConrad
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jun 11, 2020
Observation date: Jun 10, 2020
Submitted by: Marchalpern84
Region: Otsego County, New York, United States
Verified by: Sue Gregoire
Verified date: Jun 11, 2020
Observation date: Jun 10, 2020
Submitted by: bobstev3
Region: Monroe County, New York, United States
Verified by: Sue Gregoire
Verified date: Jun 11, 2020
Observation date: Jun 07, 2020
Submitted by: Shazzam
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jun 09, 2020
Observation date: Jun 05, 2020
Submitted by: Kthorne
Region: Livingston County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jun 08, 2020
Observation date: Jun 05, 2020
Submitted by: David Crockett
Region: Yellowstone County, Montana, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jun 07, 2020
Observation date: Jun 06, 2020
Submitted by: Kpiche085
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jun 07, 2020
Observation date: Jun 06, 2020
Submitted by: Bronco
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jun 07, 2020
Observation date: Jun 06, 2020
Submitted by: Jkeiemp
Region: Clark County, Indiana, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jun 07, 2020
Observation date: Jun 05, 2020
Submitted by: barthsm
Region: Erie County, New York, United States
Verified by: Sue Gregoire
Verified date: Jun 07, 2020
Observation date: Jun 05, 2020
Submitted by: County C Studio
Region: Rock County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Ilona L.
Verified date: Jun 05, 2020
Observation date: Jun 05, 2020
Submitted by: Karen Charlton
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jun 05, 2020
Observation date: Jun 03, 2020
Submitted by: dawittrock2231
Region: Vilas County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Ilona L.
Verified date: Jun 05, 2020
Observation date: Jun 03, 2020
Submitted by: hwolfe
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jun 04, 2020
Observation date: Jun 04, 2020
Submitted by: Circms
Region: Henry County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jun 04, 2020
Observation date: Jun 02, 2020
Submitted by: Nicoleshort84
Region: Butler County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jun 03, 2020
Observation date: Jun 01, 2020
Submitted by: Mkolo108
Region: Union County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jun 02, 2020
Observation date: May 27, 2020
Submitted by: BarbSendelbach
Region: Sussex County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: May 30, 2020
Observation date: May 28, 2020
Submitted by: zmanfamily
Region: Franklin County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: May 29, 2020
Observation date: May 28, 2020
Submitted by: Kabongolei
Region: Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: May 28, 2020
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