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 913 - 936 of 2148 verified sightings
Observation date: Jul 24, 2013
Submitted by: Samander
Region: Dallas County, Iowa, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: May 28, 2014
Observation date: May 27, 2014
Submitted by: Epurpurea
Region: Madison County, Alabama, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: May 27, 2014
Observation date: May 27, 2014
Submitted by: cvloehr
Region: Chittenden County, Vermont, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: May 27, 2014
Observation date: May 19, 2014
Submitted by: Tammy Tisdale
Region: Caddo Parish, Louisiana, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: May 23, 2014
Observation date: May 21, 2014
Submitted by: Tom B
Region: Plymouth County, Massachusetts, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: May 21, 2014
Observation date: May 14, 2014
Submitted by: Johnivey
Region: Pike County, Mississippi, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: May 15, 2014
Observation date: May 15, 2014
Submitted by: mazarith
Region: Marion County, Indiana, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: May 15, 2014
Observation date: May 11, 2014
Submitted by: Sarah E. Collins
Region: Rowan County, Kentucky, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: May 13, 2014
Observation date: May 12, 2014
Submitted by: PLohrey
Region: Augusta County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: May 13, 2014
Observation date: May 09, 2014
Submitted by: jmilla12
Region: Choctaw County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: May 10, 2014
Observation date: Apr 24, 2014
Submitted by: MaryAnn Friedman
Region: Okaloosa County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: May 09, 2014
Observation date: Apr 24, 2014
Submitted by: janraym
Region: Horry County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Apr 25, 2014
Observation date: Apr 24, 2014
Submitted by: amiller42
Region: St. Johns County, Florida, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Apr 24, 2014
Observation date: Aug 16, 2009
Submitted by: Gretel DeRuiter
Region: Cape May County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: Will Kerling
Verified date: Apr 18, 2014
Observation date: Apr 11, 2014
Submitted by: leanne0115
Region: Floyd County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Apr 13, 2014
Observation date: Apr 11, 2014
Submitted by: Garrison
Region: St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Apr 12, 2014
Observation date: Apr 08, 2014
Submitted by: Missamyeileen@h...
Region: Harrison County, Mississippi, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Apr 08, 2014
Observation date: Jul 06, 2013
Submitted by: ellenjones6
Region: Franklin County, New York, United States
Verified by: wayne13114
Verified date: Mar 20, 2014
Observation date: Jun 26, 2013
Submitted by: ellenjones6
Region: Franklin County, New York, United States
Verified by: wayne13114
Verified date: Mar 20, 2014
Observation date: Aug 04, 2010
Submitted by: NigelBI
Region: Washington (Block Island) County, Rhode Island, United States
Verified by: Ken Childs
Verified date: Mar 14, 2014
Observation date: Feb 08, 2014
Submitted by: diannetaylor
Region: Newport News, Virginia, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Feb 14, 2014
Observation date: Jun 03, 2013
Submitted by: killeryod
Region: Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jan 04, 2014
Observation date: Aug 17, 2013
Submitted by: jcastater
Region: Douglas County, Nebraska, United States
Verified by: Noel Mac Neil
Verified date: Jan 01, 2014
Observation date: Jun 26, 2012
Submitted by: fairasastar
Region: Huron County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: Noel Mac Neil
Verified date: Jan 01, 2014
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