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 1057 - 1080 of 2148 verified sightings
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 25, 2013
Submitted by: Carr54
Region: Ashtabula County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: May 31, 2013
Observation date: May 30, 2013
Submitted by: Dave Doc
Region: Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: May 31, 2013
Observation date: May 30, 2013
Submitted by: jccooke
Region: Erie County, New York, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: May 31, 2013
Observation date: May 31, 2013
Submitted by: BeaLaporte
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: May 31, 2013
Observation date: May 28, 2013
Submitted by: sayhellocarly
Region: Knox County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: May 29, 2013
Observation date: May 28, 2013
Submitted by: fchantry
Region: Monroe County, New York, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: May 29, 2013
Observation date: May 13, 2013
Submitted by: rdhealy1951@aol.com
Region: Hardin County, Kentucky, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: May 29, 2013
Observation date: May 29, 2013
Submitted by: heavydazy
Region: Platte County, Nebraska, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: May 29, 2013
Observation date: May 28, 2013
Submitted by: tonio666
Region: Quebec, Canada
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: May 29, 2013
Observation date: May 29, 2013
Submitted by: Sarah Turon
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: May 29, 2013
Observation date: May 22, 2013
Submitted by: aeitermanbutter...
Region: Franklin County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: May 29, 2013
Observation date: May 26, 2013
Submitted by: mreihard
Region: Trumbull County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: May 26, 2013
Observation date: May 22, 2013
Submitted by: AmyKane
Region: Litchfield County, Connecticut, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: May 24, 2013
Observation date: May 24, 2013
Submitted by: pzahornasky
Region: Essex County, Massachusetts, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: May 24, 2013
Observation date: May 19, 2013
Submitted by: Teri Shrigley
Region: Lincoln County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: May 24, 2013
Observation date: May 24, 2013
Submitted by: Daniellejgooch
Region: Rockingham County, New Hampshire, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: May 24, 2013
Observation date: May 24, 2013
Submitted by: paintr
Region: Ocean County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: May 24, 2013
Observation date: May 22, 2013
Submitted by: JMarf612
Region: Cuyahoga County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: May 23, 2013
Observation date: May 22, 2013
Submitted by: phanniejay
Region: Hancock County, Indiana, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: May 22, 2013
Observation date: May 14, 2013
Submitted by: whbauer
Region: Fort Bend County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: May 15, 2013
Observation date: May 11, 2013
Submitted by: salycat
Region: Albemarle County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: May 15, 2013
Observation date: May 10, 2013
Submitted by: jdnewber
Region: Ohio County, Kentucky, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: May 11, 2013
Observation date: May 08, 2013
Submitted by: graska
Region: Brazoria County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: May 11, 2013
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