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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 769 - 792 of 2148 verified sightings
Observation date: May 30, 2015
Submitted by: Theresa Stefanick
Region: Bedford County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: May 30, 2015
Observation date: May 29, 2015
Submitted by: Soul27
Region: Albany County, New York, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: May 30, 2015
Observation date: May 24, 2015
Submitted by: equestrienne1979
Region: Grant County, Arkansas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: May 29, 2015
Observation date: Mar 26, 2015
Submitted by: krancmm
Region: Brazoria County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: May 29, 2015
Observation date: May 29, 2015
Submitted by: mgrevelyn
Region: Monroe County, New York, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: May 29, 2015
Observation date: May 28, 2015
Submitted by: necromancer
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: May 28, 2015
Observation date: May 26, 2015
Submitted by: DebLademan
Region: Ingham County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: May 28, 2015
Observation date: May 28, 2015
Submitted by: glenda0675
Region: Iredell County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: May 28, 2015
Observation date: May 26, 2015
Submitted by: nat1025
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: May 27, 2015
Observation date: May 26, 2015
Submitted by: adelashmit
Region: Ulster County, New York, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: May 26, 2015
Observation date: May 25, 2015
Submitted by: mekele
Region: Miami County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: May 26, 2015
Observation date: May 26, 2015
Submitted by: marty olejnik
Region: Erie County, New York, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: May 26, 2015
Observation date: May 24, 2015
Submitted by: thetechwizards
Region: Ulster County, New York, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: May 26, 2015
Observation date: May 24, 2015
Submitted by: LadyJo1949
Region: Marion County, Indiana, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: May 26, 2015
Observation date: May 25, 2015
Submitted by: Barbara in Arkansas
Region: Hot Spring County, Arkansas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: May 25, 2015
Observation date: May 25, 2015
Submitted by: dwgrattan
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: May 25, 2015
Observation date: May 21, 2015
Submitted by: kestes
Region: Tallahatchie County, Mississippi, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: May 21, 2015
Observation date: May 18, 2015
Submitted by: MsSaraEliza
Region: Sullivan County, New York, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: May 20, 2015
Observation date: May 17, 2015
Submitted by: ellasingleton
Region: Allen County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: May 17, 2015
Observation date: May 15, 2015
Submitted by: Drennen
Region: Hinds County, Mississippi, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: May 15, 2015
Observation date: May 14, 2015
Submitted by: rje623
Region: Marshall County, Alabama, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: May 14, 2015
Observation date: Jul 18, 2014
Submitted by: mloborny
Region: Lancaster County, Nebraska, United States
Verified by: Steve Spomer
Verified date: May 14, 2015
Observation date: May 11, 2015
Submitted by: preisi
Region: Yellowstone County, Montana, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: May 12, 2015
Observation date: May 11, 2015
Submitted by: Gilsons
Region: Ouachita Parish, Louisiana, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: May 11, 2015
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