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 1033 - 1056 of 2148 verified sightings
Observation date: Jun 02, 2013
Submitted by: paulmartin1784
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jun 07, 2013
Observation date: Jun 06, 2013
Submitted by: kknightsmoths
Region: Cumberland County, Maine, United States
Verified by: anthony.thomas
Verified date: Jun 07, 2013
Observation date: Jun 06, 2013
Submitted by: xrangecon
Region: Cortland County, New York, United States
Verified by: H.D. McGuinness
Verified date: Jun 07, 2013
Observation date: May 25, 2013
Submitted by: tcjeep
Region: Allen County, Indiana, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jun 06, 2013
Observation date: Jun 05, 2013
Submitted by: angeliktearz
Region: Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Jun 05, 2013
Observation date: Jun 04, 2013
Submitted by: Sageandme
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Jun 05, 2013
Observation date: May 31, 2013
Submitted by: skinne
Region: Broome County, New York, United States
Verified by: Ryan St Laurent
Verified date: Jun 05, 2013
Observation date: May 19, 2013
Submitted by: lisao
Region: Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jun 05, 2013
Observation date: Jun 03, 2013
Submitted by: jcahill
Region: Bergen County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: Ryan St Laurent
Verified date: Jun 05, 2013
Observation date: Jun 03, 2013
Submitted by: tbennie
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: Jim Edsall
Verified date: Jun 04, 2013
Observation date: Jun 01, 2013
Submitted by: amaurer65
Region: Johnson County, Kansas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Jun 04, 2013
Observation date: Jun 01, 2013
Submitted by: dmeli6259
Region: Monroe County, New York, United States
Verified by: Ryan St Laurent
Verified date: Jun 03, 2013
Observation date: May 31, 2013
Submitted by: HotSauce77
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: Jim Edsall
Verified date: Jun 03, 2013
Observation date: Jun 03, 2013
Submitted by: Dan51
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: Jim Edsall
Verified date: Jun 03, 2013
Observation date: Jun 02, 2013
Submitted by: monicataylor
Region: Barnstable County, Massachusetts, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jun 03, 2013
Observation date: Jun 01, 2013
Submitted by: chelseanantz
Region: Rockland County, New York, United States
Verified by: Ryan St Laurent
Verified date: Jun 03, 2013
Observation date: Jun 02, 2013
Submitted by: aege8th
Region: Delaware County, New York, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Jun 03, 2013
Observation date: Jun 02, 2013
Submitted by: wojnovich
Region: Onondaga County, New York, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Jun 02, 2013
Observation date: Jun 01, 2013
Submitted by: Kzahradnik17
Region: Chemung County, New York, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Jun 02, 2013
Observation date: May 31, 2013
Submitted by: jeck
Region: Grafton County, New Hampshire, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Jun 02, 2013
Observation date: Jun 01, 2013
Submitted by: nicolebooks
Region: Dutchess County, New York, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Jun 02, 2013
Observation date: Jun 01, 2013
Submitted by: rvayeti
Region: Richmond, Virginia, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jun 01, 2013
Observation date: May 30, 2013
Submitted by: nick morano
Region: Albany County, New York, United States
Verified by: Ryan St Laurent
Verified date: Jun 01, 2013
Observation date: May 28, 2013
Submitted by: lilvampgurl
Region: Cattaraugus County, New York, United States
Verified by: Ryan St Laurent
Verified date: Jun 01, 2013
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