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.
Please donate!
We depend on donations to keep Butterflies and Moths of North America freely available. We want to express our gratitude to all who showed their support by making a contribution this year. You can donate to support this project at any time.
Advertise with us!
Do you have a product or service that you think would interest BAMONA users? If you would like to advertise on this website, contact us by email, or use the contact form and select the "Advertising" category.
Verified Sightings
Displaying 1225 - 1248 of 2149 verified sightings
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 23, 2012
Submitted by: nenapace123
Region: Sumner County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Jun 11, 2012
Observation date: Jun 08, 2012
Submitted by: npeasley
Region: Hancock County, Maine, United States
Verified by: anthony.thomas
Verified date: Jun 11, 2012
Observation date: Jun 10, 2012
Submitted by: jesheph1
Region: Hendricks County, Indiana, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Jun 10, 2012
Observation date: Jun 03, 2012
Submitted by: selmeralto
Region: Pike County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Jun 10, 2012
Observation date: Jun 07, 2012
Submitted by: fallsguy
Region: Dakota County, Minnesota, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Jun 10, 2012
Observation date: May 21, 2012
Submitted by: Lostmermaid
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: anthony.thomas
Verified date: Jun 09, 2012
Observation date: May 22, 2012
Submitted by: Lostmermaid
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: anthony.thomas
Verified date: Jun 09, 2012
Observation date: Jun 06, 2012
Submitted by: lisa40622
Region: Carver County, Minnesota, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Jun 07, 2012
Observation date: Jun 06, 2012
Submitted by: ahayden88
Region: Outagamie County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Jun 06, 2012
Observation date: May 31, 2012
Submitted by: poppadent
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jun 06, 2012
Observation date: Jun 03, 2012
Submitted by: Scott Dalbey
Region: Walsh County, North Dakota, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Jun 06, 2012
Observation date: May 31, 2012
Submitted by: jacqueline67
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: anthony.thomas
Verified date: Jun 03, 2012
Observation date: May 31, 2012
Submitted by: Car 67
Region: Oxford County, Maine, United States
Verified by: anthony.thomas
Verified date: Jun 01, 2012
Observation date: May 28, 2012
Submitted by: Shueholt
Region: Polk County, Iowa, United States
Verified by: nathanbrockman
Verified date: May 31, 2012
Observation date: May 28, 2012
Submitted by: HEATHER SENECHAL
Region: Oconto County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: May 31, 2012
Observation date: May 15, 2012
Submitted by: ElaineMcElroy
Region: Allen County, Indiana, United States
Verified by: nathanbrockman
Verified date: May 31, 2012
Observation date: May 27, 2012
Submitted by: BJohnson
Region: La Crosse County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: May 31, 2012
Observation date: May 20, 2012
Submitted by: jjcc3
Region: Oakland County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: elsner
Verified date: May 31, 2012
Observation date: May 31, 2012
Submitted by: kodiaksrevenge
Region: Rockingham County, New Hampshire, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: May 31, 2012
Observation date: May 12, 2012
Submitted by: CoolChickSusan
Region: Clark County, Indiana, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: May 31, 2012
Observation date: May 30, 2012
Submitted by: jthudy@att.net
Region: St. Clair County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: May 30, 2012
- ‹ previous
- 52 of 90
- next ›