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 1345 - 1368 of 2149 verified sightings
Observation date: Aug 15, 2011
Submitted by: andrea rudan
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Aug 15, 2011
Observation date: Jul 07, 2011
Submitted by: Edgerlys
Region: Eaton County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: Ranger Steve Mueller
Verified date: Aug 14, 2011
Observation date: Aug 05, 2011
Submitted by: Jay Jennings 47
Region: Jackson County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Aug 10, 2011
Observation date: Aug 06, 2011
Submitted by: Stephbodle
Region: Clinton County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Aug 07, 2011
Observation date: Jun 11, 2011
Submitted by: tnakato
Region: Johnson County, Iowa, United States
Verified by: jamesdurbin
Verified date: Aug 04, 2011
Observation date: Jun 17, 2010
Submitted by: mikeakresh
Region: Franklin County, Massachusetts, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Aug 03, 2011
Observation date: Jun 01, 2011
Submitted by: Steven Gilliland
Region: Jefferson County, Kentucky, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Aug 03, 2011
Observation date: Jun 03, 2010
Submitted by: elinsky2
Region: Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jul 23, 2011
Observation date: Sep 06, 2009
Submitted by: elinsky2
Region: Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jul 23, 2011
Observation date: Jul 12, 2011
Submitted by: cccheris
Region: Lake County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Jul 14, 2011
Observation date: Jun 03, 2011
Submitted by: ppoort
Region: Muskegon County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Jul 14, 2011
Observation date: Jul 08, 2011
Submitted by: Toni Stallkamp
Region: Lucas County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 12, 2011
Observation date: Jul 03, 2011
Submitted by: dphelps100
Region: Union County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 12, 2011
Observation date: Jun 01, 2011
Submitted by: jpfeife
Region: Lancaster County, Nebraska, United States
Verified by: jim.mason
Verified date: Jul 11, 2011
Observation date: Jul 08, 2011
Submitted by: htneckebroeck
Region: Jasper County, Indiana, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 09, 2011
Observation date: Jul 06, 2011
Submitted by: cdgav
Region: Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jul 09, 2011
Observation date: Jul 07, 2011
Submitted by: joymarie
Region: Beaver County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jul 08, 2011
Observation date: Jun 19, 2011
Submitted by: icelandicstatepark
Region: Pembina County, North Dakota, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Jul 08, 2011
Observation date: Jun 18, 2011
Submitted by: rylee.nelson
Region: Yellowstone County, Montana, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Jul 08, 2011
Observation date: Jul 07, 2011
Submitted by: jce91
Region: Richland County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 07, 2011
Observation date: Jun 19, 2011
Submitted by: Manitoba Sam
Region: Manitoba, Canada
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Jul 07, 2011
Observation date: Jul 02, 2011
Submitted by: wmumma
Region: Prince Edward Island, Canada
Verified by: anthony.thomas
Verified date: Jul 07, 2011
Observation date: Jul 06, 2011
Submitted by: runester99
Region: Hancock County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 06, 2011
Observation date: Jul 06, 2011
Submitted by: Faith
Region: Fulton County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 06, 2011
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