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 265 - 288 of 2147 verified sightings
Observation date: May 27, 2020
Submitted by: jenn2050
Region: Erie County, New York, United States
Verified by: Sue Gregoire
Verified date: May 28, 2020
Observation date: May 25, 2020
Submitted by: Altmanjl
Region: Montgomery County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: May 25, 2020
Observation date: May 17, 2020
Submitted by: TexasGirl
Region: Texas, Upshur County, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: May 24, 2020
Observation date: May 19, 2020
Submitted by: Sharpthings
Region: Pottawatomie County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: May 24, 2020
Observation date: May 20, 2020
Submitted by: Jmblodge
Region: Kay County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: May 24, 2020
Observation date: May 22, 2020
Submitted by: stomlins701 (Brandy Holman)
Region: Madison County, Alabama, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: May 24, 2020
Observation date: May 24, 2020
Submitted by: Kasikirkham@aol.com
Region: Marion County, Indiana, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: May 24, 2020
Observation date: May 22, 2020
Submitted by: Fuertges
Region: Hamilton County, Indiana, United States
Verified by: Howell_Curtis
Verified date: May 22, 2020
Observation date: May 03, 2020
Submitted by: cmdeason16
Region: Oklahoma County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: May 04, 2020
Observation date: Aug 01, 2019
Submitted by: BarbSendelbach
Region: Sussex County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Apr 18, 2020
Observation date: Apr 07, 2020
Submitted by: pattinavarro
Region: Fulton County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Apr 16, 2020
Observation date: Jun 12, 2017
Submitted by: MindyHouseholder
Region: Morton County, North Dakota, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Apr 12, 2020
Observation date: Mar 27, 2020
Submitted by: IngridSmith
Region: Texas, Real County, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Apr 03, 2020
Observation date: Apr 02, 2020
Submitted by: nikromatt
Region: Duval County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Apr 03, 2020
Observation date: Mar 30, 2020
Submitted by: Hollydana29
Region: Barnwell County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Mar 31, 2020
Observation date: Mar 30, 2020
Submitted by: rpk717
Region: Barnwell County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Mar 30, 2020
Observation date: Mar 29, 2020
Submitted by: Rdspivey26
Region: Berkeley County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Mar 29, 2020
Observation date: Mar 20, 2020
Submitted by: Hihopes
Region: Falls County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Mar 27, 2020
Observation date: Mar 15, 2020
Submitted by: dawnraines
Region: Monroe County, New York, United States
Verified by: Sue Gregoire
Verified date: Mar 17, 2020
Observation date: Mar 01, 2020
Submitted by: lollepoppup
Region: Augusta County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Mar 02, 2020
Observation date: Jul 02, 2019
Submitted by: Avangorp
Region: Houston County, Minnesota, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Dec 28, 2019
Observation date: May 26, 2019
Submitted by: Kimberly England
Region: Rutherford County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: Ken Childs
Verified date: Dec 07, 2019
Observation date: Aug 13, 2019
Submitted by: swieting
Region: Marinette County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Dec 04, 2019
Observation date: Jun 29, 2019
Submitted by: MarkSCitsay
Region: Washington County, Minnesota, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Dec 04, 2019
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