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 1273 - 1296 of 2149 verified sightings
Observation date: May 22, 2012
Submitted by: P2theaige
Region: Wilson County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: May 23, 2012
Observation date: May 23, 2012
Submitted by: lieutenantkirtar
Region: Oneida County, New York, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: May 23, 2012
Observation date: May 21, 2012
Submitted by: Danielnov
Region: Saratoga County, New York, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: May 23, 2012
Observation date: May 21, 2012
Submitted by: lkotula
Region: Onondaga County, New York, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: May 23, 2012
Observation date: May 22, 2012
Submitted by: mhoffman
Region: Franklin County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: May 23, 2012
Observation date: May 21, 2012
Submitted by: prettyinpink37
Region: Oneida County, New York, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: May 23, 2012
Observation date: May 23, 2012
Submitted by: LPelot
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: May 23, 2012
Observation date: Apr 13, 2012
Submitted by: ozcomomoths
Region: Ozark County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: Phillip E. Koenig
Verified date: May 22, 2012
Observation date: May 21, 2012
Submitted by: dlinke
Region: Winnebago County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: May 22, 2012
Observation date: May 20, 2012
Submitted by: piglet33
Region: Marinette County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: May 22, 2012
Observation date: May 18, 2012
Submitted by: MelYan1
Region: Passaic County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: May 22, 2012
Observation date: May 21, 2012
Submitted by: JasperVolkova
Region: Venango County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: May 22, 2012
Observation date: May 15, 2012
Submitted by: CraigAntkoviak
Region: Allegan County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: elsner
Verified date: May 21, 2012
Observation date: May 21, 2012
Submitted by: rachbutterfli
Region: Lake County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: May 21, 2012
Observation date: May 21, 2012
Submitted by: johnmacf
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: May 21, 2012
Observation date: May 21, 2012
Submitted by: allsmiles1981
Region: Lorain County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: May 21, 2012
Observation date: May 09, 2012
Submitted by: Marie Jordan
Region: Ottawa County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: May 20, 2012
Observation date: May 17, 2012
Submitted by: Rick Toppel II
Region: Kent County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: May 20, 2012
Observation date: May 16, 2012
Submitted by: dray84
Region: Seneca County, New York, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: May 20, 2012
Observation date: May 16, 2012
Submitted by: mikeakresh
Region: Franklin County, Massachusetts, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: May 19, 2012
Observation date: May 17, 2012
Submitted by: Krtucker
Region: Marshall County, West Virginia, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: May 18, 2012
Observation date: May 11, 2012
Submitted by: theprez
Region: Davidson County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: jasondroberts
Verified date: May 18, 2012
Observation date: May 13, 2012
Submitted by: Mary MacCollum
Region: Saratoga County, New York, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: May 17, 2012
Observation date: May 13, 2012
Submitted by: Wendy Grady
Region: Minnesota, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: May 17, 2012
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