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 841 - 864 of 2148 verified sightings
Observation date: Jun 11, 2014
Submitted by: brywilder
Region: Washington County, Vermont, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Jul 01, 2014
Observation date: Jun 29, 2014
Submitted by: KatieColleen
Region: New Brunswick, Canada
Verified by: anthony.thomas
Verified date: Jul 01, 2014
Observation date: May 13, 2014
Submitted by: Marty Arnold
Region: Kent County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: elsner
Verified date: Jul 01, 2014
Observation date: Jun 30, 2014
Submitted by: Joe Robinson
Region: Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Jun 30, 2014
Observation date: Feb 03, 2008
Submitted by: lauramallen
Region: Hamilton County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Jun 30, 2014
Observation date: Jun 30, 2014
Submitted by: Patty Bill
Region: Manitoba, Canada
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Jun 30, 2014
Observation date: Jun 23, 2014
Submitted by: darth_jake
Region: Rush County, Indiana, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Jun 30, 2014
Observation date: Jun 30, 2014
Submitted by: Thienanha
Region: Baltimore County, Maryland, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Jun 30, 2014
Observation date: Jun 26, 2014
Submitted by: stonehollow
Region: Wright County, Minnesota, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Jun 29, 2014
Observation date: Jun 28, 2014
Submitted by: shena01
Region: Cook County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Jun 29, 2014
Observation date: Jun 28, 2014
Submitted by: drkworth
Region: Hamilton County, Indiana, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Jun 29, 2014
Observation date: Jun 28, 2014
Submitted by: mjohansson13
Region: Sheridan County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Jun 29, 2014
Observation date: Jun 13, 2014
Submitted by: bootleg
Region: Ocean County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: Ryan St Laurent
Verified date: Jun 27, 2014
Observation date: Jun 06, 2014
Submitted by: CelestiHel
Region: Chittenden County, Vermont, United States
Verified by: Ryan St Laurent
Verified date: Jun 27, 2014
Observation date: Jun 27, 2014
Submitted by: silvenau
Region: Marquette County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Jun 27, 2014
Observation date: Jun 11, 2014
Submitted by: Christinecedar
Region: Nova Scotia, Canada
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Jun 26, 2014
Observation date: Jun 23, 2014
Submitted by: RickSusan
Region: Androscoggin County, Maine, United States
Verified by: anthony.thomas
Verified date: Jun 26, 2014
Observation date: Jun 21, 2014
Submitted by: seraphynx
Region: Alger County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Jun 26, 2014
Observation date: Jun 20, 2014
Submitted by: Helen1956
Region: Polk County, Iowa, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Jun 24, 2014
Observation date: Jun 24, 2014
Submitted by: TimBlankJ
Region: Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Jun 24, 2014
Observation date: Jun 24, 2014
Submitted by: mteneyck
Region: Scott County, Minnesota, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Jun 24, 2014
Observation date: Jun 22, 2014
Submitted by: sawsy2004
Region: Kenton County, Kentucky, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Jun 24, 2014
Observation date: Jun 22, 2014
Submitted by: pvasshep
Region: Jefferson County, West Virginia, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Jun 23, 2014
Observation date: Jun 22, 2014
Submitted by: Roadrunner4me
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Jun 23, 2014
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