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 1081 - 1104 of 2148 verified sightings
Observation date: May 03, 2013
Submitted by: kimannwallis
Region: Gaston County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: May 07, 2013
Observation date: Mar 02, 2013
Submitted by: jacobt
Region: Texas, Williamson County, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Apr 18, 2013
Observation date: Mar 17, 2013
Submitted by: JAKeverline
Region: Texas, Travis County, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Mar 28, 2013
Observation date: Mar 18, 2013
Submitted by: JAKeverline
Region: Texas, Travis County, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Mar 28, 2013
Observation date: Mar 21, 2013
Submitted by: Rainbow
Region: Hays County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Mar 21, 2013
Observation date: Mar 20, 2013
Submitted by: christylynne
Region: Iberville Parish, Louisiana, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Mar 21, 2013
Observation date: Mar 19, 2013
Submitted by: ChrishaPotter
Region: Bell County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Mar 19, 2013
Observation date: Mar 17, 2013
Submitted by: ezekiel
Region: Texas, Travis County, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Mar 18, 2013
Observation date: Jun 21, 2009
Submitted by: naftz78
Region: Lebanon County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Mar 13, 2013
Observation date: Apr 12, 1999
Submitted by: curtis.lehman (Paul Dennehy)
Region: Montour County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jan 28, 2013
Observation date: Jun 19, 2010
Submitted by: curtis.lehman (Paul Dennehy)
Region: Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jan 28, 2013
Observation date: Jul 02, 2004
Submitted by: curtis.lehman (Paul Dennehy)
Region: Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jan 28, 2013
Observation date: Jul 18, 2009
Submitted by: curtis.lehman (Paul Dennehy)
Region: Potter County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jan 28, 2013
Observation date: Jul 01, 2001
Submitted by: curtis.lehman (Paul Dennehy)
Region: Bedford County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jan 28, 2013
Observation date: Aug 11, 2007
Submitted by: curtis.lehman (Paul Dennehy)
Region: Columbia County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jan 28, 2013
Observation date: Jun 24, 2009
Submitted by: tjantscher
Region: Story County, Iowa, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Jan 07, 2013
Observation date: May 02, 2012
Submitted by: Moondusted
Region: Sevier County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Dec 18, 2012
Observation date: Jun 29, 2008
Submitted by: BrookeArmstrong
Region: New Brunswick, Canada
Verified by: anthony.thomas
Verified date: Dec 17, 2012
Observation date: Apr 25, 2012
Submitted by: broganjd
Region: Cowley County, Kansas, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Nov 25, 2012
Observation date: May 11, 2012
Submitted by: abra526
Region: Shawnee County, Kansas, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Nov 25, 2012
Observation date: Aug 08, 2012
Submitted by: curtis.lehman (Rory Bower)
Region: Cambria County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Nov 20, 2012
Observation date: Aug 24, 2011
Submitted by: Domestic
Region: Crawford County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Nov 08, 2012
Observation date: Jun 16, 2012
Submitted by: ellenjones6
Region: Franklin County, New York, United States
Verified by: Ryan St Laurent
Verified date: Oct 15, 2012
Observation date: Jun 30, 2009
Submitted by: Sissymac
Region: Greenwood County, Kansas, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Oct 10, 2012
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