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 457 - 480 of 2147 verified sightings
Observation date: May 30, 2018
Submitted by: sdflash34
Region: Oakland County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: elsner
Verified date: Jun 22, 2018
Observation date: May 30, 2018
Submitted by: Lin0
Region: Wayne County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: elsner
Verified date: Jun 22, 2018
Observation date: Jun 17, 2018
Submitted by: garcome
Region: Walworth County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Ilona L.
Verified date: Jun 20, 2018
Observation date: Jun 17, 2018
Submitted by: kathybrown
Region: Dodge County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Ilona L.
Verified date: Jun 20, 2018
Observation date: Jun 19, 2018
Submitted by: Lauren18
Region: Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jun 20, 2018
Observation date: Jun 15, 2018
Submitted by: HilareeHomko
Region: Guernsey County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jun 18, 2018
Observation date: Jun 16, 2018
Submitted by: DianeH
Region: Haywood County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jun 16, 2018
Observation date: Jun 15, 2018
Submitted by: Bill Keenan
Region: Monroe County, New York, United States
Verified by: Sue Gregoire
Verified date: Jun 16, 2018
Observation date: Jun 14, 2018
Submitted by: Squonk
Region: Oneida County, New York, United States
Verified by: Sue Gregoire
Verified date: Jun 15, 2018
Observation date: Jun 12, 2018
Submitted by: KellyM
Region: Buncombe County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Jun 14, 2018
Observation date: Jun 13, 2018
Submitted by: K. S. Veitch
Region: Laurel County, Kentucky, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Jun 14, 2018
Observation date: Jun 14, 2018
Submitted by: Playmaker_05
Region: Manitoba, Canada
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Jun 14, 2018
Observation date: Jun 12, 2018
Submitted by: Jlewis5
Region: Madison County, New York, United States
Verified by: Sue Gregoire
Verified date: Jun 14, 2018
Observation date: May 27, 2018
Submitted by: agadacz
Region: Crow Wing County, Minnesota, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Jun 12, 2018
Observation date: May 27, 2018
Submitted by: agadacz
Region: Crow Wing County, Minnesota, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Jun 12, 2018
Observation date: Jun 07, 2018
Submitted by: Matthewmn
Region: Hennepin County, Minnesota, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Jun 12, 2018
Observation date: Jun 09, 2018
Submitted by: RHoward
Region: Jefferson County, Kentucky, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jun 11, 2018
Observation date: Jun 10, 2018
Submitted by: 2boysmommie
Region: Accomack County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Jun 10, 2018
Observation date: Jun 10, 2018
Submitted by: Harley723
Region: Sullivan County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jun 10, 2018
Observation date: Jun 09, 2018
Submitted by: Huberrw
Region: Peoria County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jun 09, 2018
Observation date: Jun 09, 2018
Submitted by: Tmsims
Region: Stafford County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jun 09, 2018
Observation date: Jun 01, 2018
Submitted by: trever
Region: Marathon County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Ilona L.
Verified date: Jun 06, 2018
Observation date: Jun 03, 2018
Submitted by: Gizmo1954
Region: Union County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jun 05, 2018
Observation date: Jun 02, 2018
Submitted by: vovaca
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jun 05, 2018
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