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Moths are amazing creatures. Take photographs and share your moth sightings with us to document the moths where you live.
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 745 - 768 of 2148 verified sightings
Observation date: Jun 12, 2015
Submitted by: montero63
Region: Peoria County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jun 13, 2015
Observation date: Jun 11, 2015
Submitted by: douvan
Region: Genesee County, New York, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jun 12, 2015
Observation date: Jun 12, 2015
Submitted by: Jen40011
Region: Henry County, Kentucky, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Jun 12, 2015
Observation date: Jun 12, 2015
Submitted by: Jen3950@verizon.net
Region: Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Jun 12, 2015
Observation date: Jun 11, 2015
Submitted by: eswood608
Region: Crawford County, Kansas, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Jun 11, 2015
Observation date: Jun 10, 2015
Submitted by: michbirder
Region: Clare County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Jun 10, 2015
Observation date: Jun 09, 2015
Submitted by: Ebakes9
Region: St. Louis County, Minnesota, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Jun 09, 2015
Observation date: Jun 08, 2015
Submitted by: DANNYWR
Region: Calloway County, Kentucky, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Jun 08, 2015
Observation date: Jun 08, 2015
Submitted by: ccutlerbrown
Region: Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Jun 08, 2015
Observation date: Jun 08, 2015
Submitted by: TracyParsons
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jun 08, 2015
Observation date: Jun 04, 2015
Submitted by: Biffer
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Jun 08, 2015
Observation date: Jun 05, 2015
Submitted by: Turbo-Jess
Region: Providence County, Rhode Island, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Jun 06, 2015
Observation date: Jun 05, 2015
Submitted by: ChristinaM
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jun 06, 2015
Observation date: Jun 05, 2015
Submitted by: deestew
Region: Warren County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jun 05, 2015
Observation date: Jun 05, 2015
Submitted by: LeesaG
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Jun 05, 2015
Observation date: Jun 03, 2015
Submitted by: Rfortier
Region: Franklin County, Massachusetts, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Jun 03, 2015
Observation date: Jun 03, 2015
Submitted by: ncason
Region: Macomb County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Jun 03, 2015
Observation date: Jun 02, 2015
Submitted by: violinbookworm
Region: Ramsey County, Minnesota, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Jun 02, 2015
Observation date: Jun 01, 2015
Submitted by: koolbeaner
Region: Crawford County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Jun 01, 2015
Observation date: May 31, 2015
Submitted by: Eckelley13@me.com
Region: Plymouth County, Massachusetts, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: May 31, 2015
Observation date: May 30, 2015
Submitted by: allisthis
Region: Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: May 31, 2015
Observation date: May 30, 2015
Submitted by: Wandalynn
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: May 30, 2015
Observation date: May 30, 2015
Submitted by: tat051788
Region: Mercer County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: May 30, 2015
Observation date: May 27, 2015
Submitted by: smokymauve
Region: Henderson County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: May 30, 2015
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