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 1105 - 1128 of 2148 verified sightings
Observation date: Jun 12, 2012
Submitted by: arlynan
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Oct 07, 2012
Observation date: May 05, 2012
Submitted by: proberts
Region: Rockingham County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Oct 03, 2012
Observation date: Jun 11, 2012
Submitted by: rollyson09
Region: Summit County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Oct 03, 2012
Observation date: Jun 04, 2011
Submitted by: akahearoltz
Region: Chisago County, Minnesota, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Sep 18, 2012
Observation date: Aug 19, 2012
Submitted by: Marvelwood School
Region: Litchfield County, Connecticut, United States
Verified by: Ryan St Laurent
Verified date: Sep 17, 2012
Observation date: Aug 24, 2012
Submitted by: jeffreyincoventry
Region: Windham County, Connecticut, United States
Verified by: Ryan St Laurent
Verified date: Sep 17, 2012
Observation date: Aug 06, 2012
Submitted by: Appy-Brown
Region: Grand Isle County, Vermont, United States
Verified by: Ryan St Laurent
Verified date: Sep 16, 2012
Observation date: Aug 09, 2011
Submitted by: Califala22
Region: Kent County, Rhode Island, United States
Verified by: Ryan St Laurent
Verified date: Sep 16, 2012
Observation date: May 22, 2012
Submitted by: Kwlynn
Region: Callaway County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: Phillip E. Koenig
Verified date: Sep 13, 2012
Observation date: Jul 27, 2012
Submitted by: khatin17
Region: Vermont, United States
Verified by: H.D. McGuinness
Verified date: Sep 11, 2012
Observation date: Jul 26, 2012
Submitted by: Whoohoo19
Region: Sussex County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: H.D. McGuinness
Verified date: Sep 11, 2012
Observation date: May 06, 2011
Submitted by: Jeffrey Davidson
Region: Los Angeles County, California, United States
Verified by: kellyrichers
Verified date: Sep 10, 2012
Observation date: Jun 05, 2012
Submitted by: Gigggls
Region: Wyandotte County, Kansas, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Sep 10, 2012
Observation date: Aug 11, 2012
Submitted by: Naomi
Region: Manitoba, Canada
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Sep 01, 2012
Observation date: Jun 26, 2011
Submitted by: ikhaya
Region: Johnson County, Kansas, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Aug 28, 2012
Observation date: Jun 11, 2010
Submitted by: lilkriskattn
Region: Rhea County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Aug 27, 2012
Observation date: Aug 19, 2012
Submitted by: rayers12
Region: Mercer County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Aug 22, 2012
Observation date: May 25, 2012
Submitted by: thmzup
Region: Grafton County, New Hampshire, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Aug 21, 2012
Observation date: Aug 18, 2012
Submitted by: prairie fairie
Region: Otter Tail County, Minnesota, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Aug 19, 2012
Observation date: Aug 09, 2012
Submitted by: kmlaf
Region: Carroll County, New Hampshire, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Aug 19, 2012
Observation date: Aug 17, 2012
Submitted by: twil
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: anthony.thomas
Verified date: Aug 17, 2012
Observation date: Mar 10, 2012
Submitted by: Kyle Jones
Region: Windsor County, Vermont, United States
Verified by: elsner
Verified date: Aug 14, 2012
Observation date: Jul 07, 2011
Submitted by: sharin
Region: Clarion County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Aug 12, 2012
Observation date: Aug 03, 2012
Submitted by: chantelg4
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Aug 10, 2012
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