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 865 - 888 of 2148 verified sightings
Observation date: Jun 22, 2014
Submitted by: Roadrunner4me
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Jun 23, 2014
Observation date: Jun 21, 2014
Submitted by: Brigid Sullivan
Region: Windsor County, Vermont, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Jun 22, 2014
Observation date: Jun 11, 2014
Submitted by: novedlleub
Region: Nova Scotia, Canada
Verified by: anthony.thomas
Verified date: Jun 21, 2014
Observation date: Jun 20, 2014
Submitted by: Jphrose
Region: O Brien County, Iowa, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Jun 21, 2014
Observation date: Jun 19, 2014
Submitted by: indyenne
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Jun 19, 2014
Observation date: Jun 19, 2014
Submitted by: Meg Schroeder
Region: Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Jun 19, 2014
Observation date: Jun 19, 2014
Submitted by: mcarbonneau
Region: Orleans County, Vermont, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Jun 19, 2014
Observation date: Jun 03, 2014
Submitted by: DJS9876
Region: Monroe County, New York, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Jun 18, 2014
Observation date: Jun 16, 2014
Submitted by: lindy
Region: New York, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jun 17, 2014
Observation date: Jun 17, 2014
Submitted by: Alyferg
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Jun 17, 2014
Observation date: Jun 09, 2014
Submitted by: Plaisted
Region: Kennebec County, Maine, United States
Verified by: anthony.thomas
Verified date: Jun 15, 2014
Observation date: Jun 15, 2014
Submitted by: RagedStRanger
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Jun 15, 2014
Observation date: Jun 14, 2014
Submitted by: Eric Patino
Region: Cumberland County, Maine, United States
Verified by: anthony.thomas
Verified date: Jun 15, 2014
Observation date: Jun 15, 2014
Submitted by: franday
Region: New Brunswick, Canada
Verified by: anthony.thomas
Verified date: Jun 15, 2014
Observation date: Jun 15, 2014
Submitted by: Pattyjohnson1955
Region: Cumberland County, Maine, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Jun 15, 2014
Observation date: Jun 15, 2014
Submitted by: pbfc
Region: Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jun 15, 2014
Observation date: Jun 13, 2014
Submitted by: SuicideBlonde0611
Region: Kentucky, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jun 14, 2014
Observation date: Jun 14, 2014
Submitted by: direland
Region: Johnson County, Indiana, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jun 14, 2014
Observation date: Jun 12, 2014
Submitted by: srawlins
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Jun 12, 2014
Observation date: Jun 08, 2014
Submitted by: yawdeeps1
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Jun 11, 2014
Observation date: Jun 11, 2014
Submitted by: sunshine-60
Region: Knox County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Jun 11, 2014
Observation date: Jun 09, 2014
Submitted by: loftworks
Region: Elk County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Jun 11, 2014
Observation date: Jun 08, 2014
Submitted by: Ernie_Carrick
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Jun 11, 2014
Observation date: Jun 09, 2014
Submitted by: Christian192r
Region: Boone County, Kentucky, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Jun 11, 2014
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