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 1249 - 1272 of 2149 verified sightings
Observation date: May 29, 2012
Submitted by: jcarstan
Region: Barnstable County, Massachusetts, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: May 30, 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
Observation date: May 27, 2012
Submitted by: twolfe12
Region: Oswego County, New York, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: May 30, 2012
Observation date: May 28, 2012
Submitted by: russiet
Region: Belknap County, New Hampshire, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: May 30, 2012
Observation date: May 28, 2012
Submitted by: slemieux
Region: Kennebec County, Maine, United States
Verified by: anthony.thomas
Verified date: May 29, 2012
Observation date: May 29, 2012
Submitted by: nirvanagirl16
Region: Indiana, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: May 29, 2012
Observation date: May 29, 2012
Submitted by: diana65
Region: Hillsborough County, New Hampshire, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: May 29, 2012
Observation date: May 26, 2012
Submitted by: tanyamarin1
Region: Kennebec County, Maine, United States
Verified by: anthony.thomas
Verified date: May 28, 2012
Observation date: May 28, 2012
Submitted by: ESomogyvari
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: May 28, 2012
Observation date: May 27, 2012
Submitted by: tdnecker
Region: Pike County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: May 28, 2012
Observation date: May 28, 2012
Submitted by: pammuz
Region: Sullivan County, New Hampshire, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: May 28, 2012
Observation date: May 21, 2012
Submitted by: paroy_72
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: May 28, 2012
Observation date: May 27, 2012
Submitted by: skystarrs
Region: Penobscot County, Maine, United States
Verified by: anthony.thomas
Verified date: May 27, 2012
Observation date: May 24, 2012
Submitted by: rjtesarek
Region: St. Louis County, Minnesota, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: May 26, 2012
Observation date: May 26, 2012
Submitted by: brunsjenn59
Region: Hamilton County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: May 26, 2012
Observation date: May 24, 2012
Submitted by: Leatherkiss
Region: Onondaga County, New York, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: May 26, 2012
Observation date: May 25, 2012
Submitted by: cberg3
Region: Chemung County, New York, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: May 26, 2012
Observation date: May 25, 2012
Submitted by: kenkenadian
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: May 25, 2012
Observation date: May 23, 2012
Submitted by: fostecs
Region: Davidson County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: Don Tangren
Verified date: May 25, 2012
Observation date: May 24, 2012
Submitted by: abeanz21
Region: Wayne County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: May 25, 2012
Observation date: May 25, 2012
Submitted by: wooshy1204
Region: Cheshire County, New Hampshire, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: May 25, 2012
Observation date: May 20, 2012
Submitted by: Karen Talpa
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: May 25, 2012
Observation date: May 25, 2012
Submitted by: jwkunhardt
Region: Hampshire County, Massachusetts, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: May 25, 2012
Observation date: May 24, 2012
Submitted by: kaelen
Region: Hampshire County, Massachusetts, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: May 24, 2012
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