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 1297 - 1320 of 2149 verified sightings
Observation date: May 15, 2012
Submitted by: bfranch65
Region: Oneida County, New York, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: May 17, 2012
Observation date: May 15, 2012
Submitted by: sandberg girls
Region: Anoka County, Minnesota, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: May 17, 2012
Observation date: May 13, 2012
Submitted by: Moo36
Region: Kent County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: elsner
Verified date: May 15, 2012
Observation date: May 15, 2012
Submitted by: Joyce Martin
Region: Gogebic County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: elsner
Verified date: May 15, 2012
Observation date: May 10, 2012
Submitted by: widemouth1
Region: Ottawa County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: May 13, 2012
Observation date: May 05, 2012
Submitted by: thatbobguy
Region: DuPage County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: May 13, 2012
Observation date: May 13, 2012
Submitted by: TundraT
Region: Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: May 13, 2012
Observation date: May 12, 2012
Submitted by: gloue1
Region: Greene County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: Phillip E. Koenig
Verified date: May 12, 2012
Observation date: May 11, 2012
Submitted by: Leiah Osborne
Region: Allen County, Indiana, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: May 11, 2012
Observation date: May 10, 2012
Submitted by: nick100
Region: Lucas County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: May 10, 2012
Observation date: May 09, 2012
Submitted by: coreyammons
Region: Franklin County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: May 09, 2012
Observation date: Apr 26, 2012
Submitted by: jimchrena
Region: Hamilton County, Indiana, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: May 07, 2012
Observation date: May 04, 2012
Submitted by: Montewall
Region: Franklin County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: May 07, 2012
Observation date: May 06, 2012
Submitted by: mdimartini1069
Region: Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: May 07, 2012
Observation date: May 05, 2012
Submitted by: Marmstrong223
Region: Jackson County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: Phillip E. Koenig
Verified date: May 06, 2012
Observation date: Apr 20, 2012
Submitted by: joekitzmiller
Region: Henry County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: May 02, 2012
Observation date: Apr 26, 2012
Submitted by: curtis.lehman (Rory Bower)
Region: Mifflin County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Apr 29, 2012
Observation date: Apr 27, 2012
Submitted by: Pat Reid
Region: Nelson County, Kentucky, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Apr 27, 2012
Observation date: Apr 26, 2012
Submitted by: janiep
Region: Virginia, Westmoreland County, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Apr 26, 2012
Observation date: Apr 24, 2012
Submitted by: Natalie J
Region: Union County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Apr 25, 2012
Observation date: Apr 22, 2012
Submitted by: tiny369
Region: Chesterfield County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Apr 22, 2012
Observation date: Mar 05, 2012
Submitted by: kittykat
Region: Stone County, Arkansas, United States
Verified by: lorispencer
Verified date: Apr 20, 2012
Observation date: Apr 18, 2012
Submitted by: bystr005
Region: Polk County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Apr 19, 2012
Observation date: Apr 16, 2012
Submitted by: mdorosh
Region: Spartanburg County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Apr 16, 2012
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