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 1201 - 1224 of 2149 verified sightings
Observation date: Jun 04, 2012
Submitted by: Mary Cary Crawford
Region: Delta County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Jun 12, 2012
Observation date: May 20, 2012
Submitted by: mforken
Region: Monroe County, New York, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Jun 12, 2012
Observation date: Apr 27, 2012
Submitted by: akbourne
Region: Lancaster County, Nebraska, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Jun 12, 2012
Observation date: May 23, 2012
Submitted by: jwilcox
Region: Erie County, New York, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Jun 12, 2012
Observation date: May 24, 2012
Submitted by: lacie@29
Region: Madison County, New York, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Jun 12, 2012
Observation date: Jun 06, 2012
Submitted by: hans voigt
Region: Stearns County, Minnesota, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Jun 12, 2012
Observation date: May 26, 2012
Submitted by: Linda
Region: Erie County, New York, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Jun 12, 2012
Observation date: May 17, 2012
Submitted by: Jeannardozziforsyth
Region: Chemung County, New York, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Jun 12, 2012
Observation date: Apr 25, 2012
Submitted by: Dez
Region: Washington County, Kansas, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Jun 12, 2012
Observation date: May 31, 2012
Submitted by: ccsoucie
Region: Hartford County, Connecticut, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Jun 12, 2012
Observation date: May 17, 2012
Submitted by: ksmt2tmc
Region: Broome County, New York, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Jun 12, 2012
Observation date: Jun 10, 2012
Submitted by: Darlene Korzinski
Region: Manitoba, Canada
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Jun 12, 2012
Observation date: May 31, 2012
Submitted by: Daniel Fontaine
Region: Quebec, Canada
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Jun 12, 2012
Observation date: Jun 12, 2012
Submitted by: widsss
Region: Franklin County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Jun 12, 2012
Observation date: Jun 03, 2012
Submitted by: GMarais
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Jun 12, 2012
Observation date: May 26, 2012
Submitted by: patriot338
Region: Alpena County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: elsner
Verified date: Jun 12, 2012
Observation date: May 31, 2012
Submitted by: kljennin
Region: Virginia, Virginia Beach County, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Jun 12, 2012
Observation date: May 30, 2009
Submitted by: Chip Krilowicz
Region: Sussex County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Jun 12, 2012
Observation date: Apr 02, 2012
Submitted by: Marvin Smith
Region: Searcy County, Arkansas, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Jun 12, 2012
Observation date: May 28, 2012
Submitted by: rainbow-cell
Region: Wexford County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: elsner
Verified date: Jun 12, 2012
Observation date: Apr 25, 2012
Submitted by: oneibarber
Region: Lancaster County, Nebraska, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Jun 12, 2012
Observation date: May 29, 2012
Submitted by: michbirder
Region: Midland County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: elsner
Verified date: Jun 12, 2012
Observation date: Apr 27, 2012
Submitted by: Wendi N
Region: Marshall County, Kansas, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Jun 12, 2012
Observation date: May 24, 2012
Submitted by: TeriRDP
Region: Erie County, New York, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Jun 12, 2012
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