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 361 - 384 of 2147 verified sightings
Observation date: Jun 07, 2019
Submitted by: lhuckaby
Region: Wood County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jun 07, 2019
Observation date: Jun 07, 2019
Submitted by: crjenkins
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jun 07, 2019
Observation date: May 29, 2019
Submitted by: rrhh
Region: Centre County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jun 07, 2019
Observation date: Jun 05, 2019
Submitted by: jsmith
Region: Ocean County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jun 06, 2019
Observation date: May 24, 2019
Submitted by: kammer
Region: Erie County, New York, United States
Verified by: Sue Gregoire
Verified date: Jun 04, 2019
Observation date: May 31, 2019
Submitted by: curious06012019
Region: Wilson County, Kansas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Jun 02, 2019
Observation date: Jun 01, 2019
Submitted by: Gregg Parini
Region: Licking County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jun 02, 2019
Observation date: Jun 01, 2019
Submitted by: kwood
Region: Dane County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Ilona L.
Verified date: Jun 01, 2019
Observation date: Jun 01, 2019
Submitted by: Holly J Griffin
Region: Gloucester County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jun 01, 2019
Observation date: May 30, 2019
Submitted by: WhoDat89
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: May 31, 2019
Observation date: May 29, 2019
Submitted by: Sarge2306
Region: Franklin County, Arkansas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: May 30, 2019
Observation date: May 26, 2019
Submitted by: Theophilon
Region: Stark County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: May 29, 2019
Observation date: May 27, 2019
Submitted by: Calliethecat1
Region: Gaston County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: May 29, 2019
Observation date: May 29, 2019
Submitted by: cato
Region: Cuyahoga County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: May 29, 2019
Observation date: May 28, 2019
Submitted by: magnolyah
Region: Georgia, Towns County, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: May 29, 2019
Observation date: May 28, 2019
Submitted by: Chrisjordanrn
Region: Rogers County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: May 28, 2019
Observation date: May 26, 2019
Submitted by: jrtindall
Region: Mercer County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: May 28, 2019
Observation date: Jul 19, 2018
Submitted by: dhay99
Region: Hennepin County, Minnesota, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: May 27, 2019
Observation date: May 23, 2019
Submitted by: jrtindall
Region: Mercer County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: May 24, 2019
Observation date: May 20, 2019
Submitted by: lasco199
Region: Wake County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: May 21, 2019
Observation date: May 05, 2019
Submitted by: loveiguanas
Region: Hamilton County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: May 21, 2019
Observation date: May 18, 2019
Submitted by: Rhondajb
Region: Anderson County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: May 18, 2019
Observation date: May 16, 2019
Submitted by: jules0918
Region: Dutchess County, New York, United States
Verified by: Sue Gregoire
Verified date: May 17, 2019
Observation date: May 16, 2019
Submitted by: Bubbaark53
Region: Arkansas County, Arkansas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: May 16, 2019
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