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 1153 - 1176 of 2148 verified sightings
Observation date: Jun 28, 2012
Submitted by: Asterner
Region: Northampton County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Jun 28, 2012
Observation date: Jun 07, 2012
Submitted by: walter600rr
Region: Marion County, Indiana, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Jun 25, 2012
Observation date: Jun 22, 2012
Submitted by: fields_of_butte...
Region: Hancock County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Jun 23, 2012
Observation date: Jun 21, 2012
Submitted by: Tomgj123
Region: Oakland County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Jun 22, 2012
Observation date: Jun 15, 2012
Submitted by: TheWuz
Region: Dane County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Jun 21, 2012
Observation date: May 28, 2012
Submitted by: John Schwartz
Region: Anne Arundel County, Maryland, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Jun 21, 2012
Observation date: Jun 20, 2012
Submitted by: Sunzhere
Region: Worcester County, Maryland, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Jun 21, 2012
Observation date: Jun 25, 2006
Submitted by: brandy38
Region: New Brunswick, Canada
Verified by: anthony.thomas
Verified date: Jun 20, 2012
Observation date: May 02, 2012
Submitted by: Zehd
Region: Garland County, Arkansas, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Jun 20, 2012
Observation date: Apr 27, 2012
Submitted by: lepidopteran lover
Region: Carroll County, Arkansas, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Jun 20, 2012
Observation date: Jun 01, 2012
Submitted by: werowe
Region: Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Jun 19, 2012
Observation date: Jun 19, 2012
Submitted by: pclams
Region: Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Jun 19, 2012
Observation date: Jun 19, 2012
Submitted by: kimdevore
Region: Franklin County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Jun 19, 2012
Observation date: Jun 03, 2012
Submitted by: Ken Cheeks
Region: Richmond County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Jun 19, 2012
Observation date: Jun 19, 2012
Submitted by: Pennyk
Region: Michigan, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Jun 19, 2012
Observation date: Jun 18, 2012
Submitted by: spiker56
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Jun 19, 2012
Observation date: May 10, 2012
Submitted by: meg yagoda
Region: Genesee County, New York, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Jun 18, 2012
Observation date: Jun 17, 2012
Submitted by: danatkisson
Region: Franklin County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Jun 18, 2012
Observation date: Jun 16, 2012
Submitted by: cherylhession
Region: Jackson County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Jun 18, 2012
Observation date: Jun 17, 2012
Submitted by: ShirleyL7752
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Jun 17, 2012
Observation date: Jun 14, 2012
Submitted by: harleycanuck
Region: Cuyahoga County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Jun 17, 2012
Observation date: Aug 18, 2011
Submitted by: Scolmey
Region: Oneida County, New York, United States
Verified by: H.D. McGuinness
Verified date: Jun 17, 2012
Observation date: Aug 13, 2011
Submitted by: nspringer
Region: Burlington County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: H.D. McGuinness
Verified date: Jun 17, 2012
Observation date: Jun 17, 2012
Submitted by: Sumanmy
Region: Logan County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Jun 17, 2012
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