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 553 - 576 of 2148 verified sightings
Observation date: Jun 30, 2017
Submitted by: Sammy Da Bear
Region: Clay County, Iowa, United States
Verified by: jamesdurbin
Verified date: Jul 13, 2017
Observation date: Jul 08, 2017
Submitted by: Eharvey87
Region: Somerset County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Jul 10, 2017
Observation date: Jul 06, 2017
Submitted by: kkilts
Region: Warren County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jul 06, 2017
Observation date: Jul 05, 2017
Submitted by: Lmnopies@Gmail.com
Region: Winnebago County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Ilona L.
Verified date: Jul 05, 2017
Observation date: Jul 05, 2017
Submitted by: Sheryl Johnson
Region: Chester County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jul 05, 2017
Observation date: Sep 26, 2014
Submitted by: LindaJ
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jul 05, 2017
Observation date: Jul 02, 2017
Submitted by: grayhairstreak
Region: New Castle County, Delaware, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 02, 2017
Observation date: Jun 30, 2017
Submitted by: suburbanbiologist
Region: Cleveland County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Jun 30, 2017
Observation date: Jun 29, 2017
Submitted by: TizzNap
Region: Cook County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jun 29, 2017
Observation date: Jun 27, 2017
Submitted by: DohertyJohnF
Region: Warren County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jun 29, 2017
Observation date: Jun 26, 2017
Submitted by: Aler58
Region: Lincoln County, West Virginia, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jun 26, 2017
Observation date: Jun 23, 2017
Submitted by: jollygoodyellow
Region: Nova Scotia, Canada
Verified by: Sue Gregoire
Verified date: Jun 25, 2017
Observation date: Jun 24, 2017
Submitted by: julmast
Region: Elkhart County, Indiana, United States
Verified by: Howell_Curtis
Verified date: Jun 24, 2017
Observation date: Jun 18, 2017
Submitted by: Alileau
Region: Sauk County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Ilona L.
Verified date: Jun 23, 2017
Observation date: Jun 28, 2016
Submitted by: sp
Region: Union County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jun 23, 2017
Observation date: Jun 23, 2017
Submitted by: sweetsara79
Region: Wayne County, Indiana, United States
Verified by: Howell_Curtis
Verified date: Jun 23, 2017
Observation date: Jun 20, 2017
Submitted by: Kynajohnson
Region: Maryland, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jun 21, 2017
Observation date: Jun 20, 2017
Submitted by: MSH
Region: Franklin County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jun 21, 2017
Observation date: Jun 15, 2017
Submitted by: Moth_man69
Region: Douglas County, Nebraska, United States
Verified by: kking216
Verified date: Jun 16, 2017
Observation date: Jun 14, 2017
Submitted by: marymarywyb
Region: Douglas County, Nebraska, United States
Verified by: kking216
Verified date: Jun 16, 2017
Observation date: Jun 14, 2017
Submitted by: marymarywyb
Region: Douglas County, Nebraska, United States
Verified by: kking216
Verified date: Jun 16, 2017
Observation date: May 29, 2017
Submitted by: omederas
Region: Waupaca County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Ilona L.
Verified date: Jun 15, 2017
Observation date: Jun 13, 2017
Submitted by: Jenco121
Region: Hamilton County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jun 14, 2017
Observation date: Jun 13, 2017
Submitted by: xtry51
Region: Cheshire County, New Hampshire, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jun 13, 2017
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