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 313 - 336 of 2147 verified sightings
Observation date: Jul 12, 2019
Submitted by: CharlieKim
Region: Lake County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 12, 2019
Observation date: Jul 07, 2019
Submitted by: Raptorgirl94
Region: Erie County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 08, 2019
Observation date: Jul 07, 2019
Submitted by: leonem
Region: Albany County, New York, United States
Verified by: Sue Gregoire
Verified date: Jul 08, 2019
Observation date: Jul 07, 2019
Submitted by: Tpollich
Region: Jefferson County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Ilona L.
Verified date: Jul 08, 2019
Observation date: Jul 03, 2019
Submitted by: Sarka motyl
Region: Boone County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 05, 2019
Observation date: Jul 03, 2019
Submitted by: Sarka motyl
Region: Boone County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 05, 2019
Observation date: Jul 05, 2019
Submitted by: Butterfly_guy6969
Region: Suffolk County, New York, United States
Verified by: Sue Gregoire
Verified date: Jul 05, 2019
Observation date: Jul 02, 2019
Submitted by: Burkhardtba
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 04, 2019
Observation date: Jul 03, 2019
Submitted by: Theresabeddy
Region: Stark County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 04, 2019
Observation date: Jul 03, 2019
Submitted by: prairiehome
Region: Ashland County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Ilona L.
Verified date: Jul 04, 2019
Observation date: Jul 02, 2019
Submitted by: Kmlombardi
Region: Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jul 04, 2019
Observation date: Jul 03, 2019
Submitted by: Ekroska
Region: Dane County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Ilona L.
Verified date: Jul 03, 2019
Observation date: Jul 03, 2019
Submitted by: mindy780
Region: Plymouth County, Iowa, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Jul 03, 2019
Observation date: Jul 02, 2019
Submitted by: JMagdech
Region: Green County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Ilona L.
Verified date: Jul 02, 2019
Observation date: Jun 30, 2019
Submitted by: Katewojo
Region: Will County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 01, 2019
Observation date: Jun 30, 2019
Submitted by: DogRocket
Region: McHenry County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 01, 2019
Observation date: Jun 29, 2019
Submitted by: Ryan1234
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jun 29, 2019
Observation date: Jun 29, 2019
Submitted by: CupOfOasis
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jun 29, 2019
Observation date: Jun 27, 2019
Submitted by: V Demarco
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jun 29, 2019
Observation date: Jun 28, 2019
Submitted by: StewartEh
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jun 28, 2019
Observation date: Jun 28, 2019
Submitted by: Hlewis1679
Region: Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jun 28, 2019
Observation date: Jun 08, 2019
Submitted by: Smsitek
Region: Ramsey County, Minnesota, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Jun 27, 2019
Observation date: Jun 26, 2019
Submitted by: c321h
Region: Olmsted County, Minnesota, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Jun 27, 2019
Observation date: Jun 26, 2019
Submitted by: Scottmac
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jun 26, 2019
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