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 1009 - 1032 of 2148 verified sightings
Observation date: Jun 13, 2013
Submitted by: Lacrossi
Region: Nova Scotia, Canada
Verified by: anthony.thomas
Verified date: Jun 16, 2013
Observation date: Jun 11, 2013
Submitted by: shelbyLask
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: Jim Edsall
Verified date: Jun 14, 2013
Observation date: Jun 14, 2013
Submitted by: New to the wond...
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Jun 14, 2013
Observation date: Jun 11, 2013
Submitted by: shelbyLask
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: Jim Edsall
Verified date: Jun 14, 2013
Observation date: Jun 13, 2013
Submitted by: haleybones
Region: Nova Scotia, Canada
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Jun 13, 2013
Observation date: Jun 13, 2013
Submitted by: apostma
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Jun 13, 2013
Observation date: Jun 04, 2013
Submitted by: vivianlwebb
Region: Knox County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Jun 13, 2013
Observation date: Jun 22, 2006
Submitted by: Karl Kranz
Region: York County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jun 13, 2013
Observation date: Jun 12, 2013
Submitted by: Lunar_Melissa
Region: Franklin County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Jun 12, 2013
Observation date: Jun 10, 2013
Submitted by: ardinius
Region: Merrimack County, New Hampshire, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Jun 12, 2013
Observation date: Jun 11, 2013
Submitted by: selenafshr
Region: Cumberland County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Jun 11, 2013
Observation date: Jun 09, 2013
Submitted by: Melyssa011190
Region: Wayne County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: elsner
Verified date: Jun 11, 2013
Observation date: Jun 10, 2013
Submitted by: Noel Mac Neil
Region: Grand Traverse County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: elsner
Verified date: Jun 11, 2013
Observation date: Jun 06, 2013
Submitted by: vinnyd2007
Region: Macomb County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: elsner
Verified date: Jun 11, 2013
Observation date: Jun 06, 2013
Submitted by: Bsjava
Region: Allegany County, New York, United States
Verified by: Ryan St Laurent
Verified date: Jun 11, 2013
Observation date: Jun 09, 2013
Submitted by: rlamott
Region: Grand Traverse County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: elsner
Verified date: Jun 11, 2013
Observation date: Jun 08, 2013
Submitted by: mrsharoldd
Region: Cortland County, New York, United States
Verified by: H.D. McGuinness
Verified date: Jun 10, 2013
Observation date: Jun 07, 2013
Submitted by: Katfisch
Region: Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Jun 10, 2013
Observation date: Jun 09, 2013
Submitted by: Melanie C
Region: Orange County, Vermont, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Jun 09, 2013
Observation date: Jun 07, 2013
Submitted by: emilystetser
Region: Waldo County, Maine, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Jun 09, 2013
Observation date: Jun 02, 2013
Submitted by: Marla
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Jun 08, 2013
Observation date: Jun 08, 2013
Submitted by: wihippie
Region: Polk County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Jun 08, 2013
Observation date: Jun 08, 2013
Submitted by: S Copas
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Jun 08, 2013
Observation date: Jun 03, 2013
Submitted by: kellylee13
Region: Onondaga County, New York, United States
Verified by: Ryan St Laurent
Verified date: Jun 07, 2013
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