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 481 - 504 of 2147 verified sightings
Observation date: Jun 03, 2018
Submitted by: Djsketer
Region: Rensselaer County, New York, United States
Verified by: Sue Gregoire
Verified date: Jun 04, 2018
Observation date: May 12, 2018
Submitted by: haczech
Region: Jackson County, Alabama, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Jun 03, 2018
Observation date: Jun 03, 2018
Submitted by: naturelvrbonnie
Region: Jefferson County, Kentucky, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jun 03, 2018
Observation date: Jun 01, 2018
Submitted by: maceyb2
Region: Rensselaer County, New York, United States
Verified by: Sue Gregoire
Verified date: Jun 02, 2018
Observation date: Apr 14, 2018
Submitted by: BrandonH
Region: Clarion County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: May 31, 2018
Observation date: May 30, 2018
Submitted by: milesss
Region: Tompkins County, New York, United States
Verified by: Sue Gregoire
Verified date: May 31, 2018
Observation date: May 27, 2018
Submitted by: Kanthony64
Region: Ashtabula County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: May 28, 2018
Observation date: May 25, 2018
Submitted by: Elandale
Region: Granville County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: May 28, 2018
Observation date: May 27, 2018
Submitted by: Stan Mathews
Region: Ontario County, New York, United States
Verified by: Sue Gregoire
Verified date: May 28, 2018
Observation date: May 26, 2018
Submitted by: epayne73
Region: Onondaga County, New York, United States
Verified by: Sue Gregoire
Verified date: May 27, 2018
Observation date: May 24, 2018
Submitted by: Lguba
Region: Oakland County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: May 25, 2018
Observation date: May 24, 2018
Submitted by: Nichole Powell
Region: Ross County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: May 24, 2018
Observation date: May 21, 2018
Submitted by: Radolovic
Region: Lake County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: May 23, 2018
Observation date: May 15, 2018
Submitted by: saragrace38
Region: Barron County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Ilona L.
Verified date: May 18, 2018
Observation date: Apr 26, 2018
Submitted by: nnwwhh
Region: Hanover County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Apr 28, 2018
Observation date: Jun 26, 2016
Submitted by: MusicPapa
Region: Champaign County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Apr 03, 2018
Observation date: Mar 25, 2018
Submitted by: Naivenature
Region: Bexar County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Mar 25, 2018
Observation date: Jun 20, 2015
Submitted by: Mark Plessner
Region: Lucas County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Mar 21, 2018
Observation date: Mar 17, 2018
Submitted by: WBJE1313
Region: Goliad County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Mar 19, 2018
Observation date: Mar 19, 2018
Submitted by: Jlutz
Region: Bay County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Mar 19, 2018
Observation date: Jun 12, 2017
Submitted by: Ian Bennallick
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jan 31, 2018
Observation date: Jun 21, 2017
Submitted by: Bergman
Region: Clay County, Minnesota, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Dec 17, 2017
Observation date: Sep 02, 2017
Submitted by: crx2aj3
Region: Tompkins County, New York, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Dec 11, 2017
Observation date: Jul 16, 2017
Submitted by: Emmyboo77
Region: Nicollet County, Minnesota, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Dec 07, 2017
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