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 1129 - 1152 of 2148 verified sightings
Observation date: Aug 07, 2012
Submitted by: adammcgowan
Region: Alberta, Canada
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Aug 09, 2012
Observation date: Aug 03, 2012
Submitted by: C bennett
Region: Putnam County, Indiana, United States
Verified by: Howell_Curtis
Verified date: Aug 04, 2012
Observation date: Jun 14, 2012
Submitted by: rdhealy1951@aol.com
Region: Hardin County, Kentucky, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Aug 01, 2012
Observation date: Jul 28, 2012
Submitted by: TinaDandee
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jul 29, 2012
Observation date: Jul 21, 2012
Submitted by: Kyle Jones
Region: Windsor County, Vermont, United States
Verified by: H.D. McGuinness
Verified date: Jul 27, 2012
Observation date: Jul 25, 2011
Submitted by: Prairie Wetland...
Region: Otter Tail County, Minnesota, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Jul 26, 2012
Observation date: Jul 16, 2012
Submitted by: Janet M
Region: Fulton County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jul 24, 2012
Observation date: Mar 28, 2009
Submitted by: AlanM
Region: St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Jul 24, 2012
Observation date: Apr 07, 2012
Submitted by: Lois Stacey
Region: Aiken County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Jul 21, 2012
Observation date: Jun 19, 2012
Submitted by: x34pjz9
Region: Porter County, Indiana, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Jul 20, 2012
Observation date: Jul 22, 2010
Submitted by: adamschaffer
Region: Madison County, Arkansas, United States
Verified by: lorispencer
Verified date: Jul 17, 2012
Observation date: Jul 14, 2012
Submitted by: bdennie
Region: Fulton County, New York, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jul 16, 2012
Observation date: Jul 14, 2012
Submitted by: bdennie
Region: Fulton County, New York, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jul 16, 2012
Observation date: Jul 14, 2012
Submitted by: gregaloe
Region: Schenectady County, New York, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jul 16, 2012
Observation date: May 19, 2012
Submitted by: dallison
Region: Chenango County, New York, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Jul 07, 2012
Observation date: Jul 01, 2012
Submitted by: lwebb612
Region: Medina County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Jul 06, 2012
Observation date: Jun 03, 2012
Submitted by: dannyharris
Region: Tazewell County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 06, 2012
Observation date: Jun 23, 2012
Submitted by: aloom127
Region: Anoka County, Minnesota, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Jul 05, 2012
Observation date: Jun 23, 2012
Submitted by: phoulx
Region: Kent County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Jul 05, 2012
Observation date: Jul 05, 2012
Submitted by: ataylor140
Region: Delaware County, Indiana, United States
Verified by: Howell_Curtis
Verified date: Jul 05, 2012
Observation date: Jul 04, 2012
Submitted by: sneas
Region: Berks County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Jul 04, 2012
Observation date: Jun 27, 2012
Submitted by: mrbung
Region: Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Jul 04, 2012
Observation date: May 06, 2012
Submitted by: ET
Region: Essex County, New York, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Jul 04, 2012
Observation date: Jun 27, 2012
Submitted by: aloverisforever
Region: Lorain County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Jun 30, 2012
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