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 1369 - 1392 of 2149 verified sightings
Observation date: Jul 06, 2011
Submitted by: runester99
Region: Hancock County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 06, 2011
Observation date: Jun 30, 2011
Submitted by: lcpjmh100706
Region: Northampton County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Jul 05, 2011
Observation date: Jun 27, 2011
Submitted by: Diane P. Brooks
Region: Athens County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 05, 2011
Observation date: Jul 03, 2011
Submitted by: nisey
Region: Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Jul 05, 2011
Observation date: Jul 05, 2011
Submitted by: PlierPal
Region: Tuscarawas County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 05, 2011
Observation date: Jun 22, 2011
Submitted by: bubsy
Region: Warren County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Jul 05, 2011
Observation date: Jun 30, 2011
Submitted by: toddfroggs
Region: St. Louis County, Minnesota, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Jul 04, 2011
Observation date: Jul 04, 2011
Submitted by: hslane118
Region: Franklin County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 04, 2011
Observation date: Jul 04, 2011
Submitted by: michmack1
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 04, 2011
Observation date: Jun 18, 2011
Submitted by: R.melochejr
Region: Washington County, Rhode Island, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Jul 03, 2011
Observation date: Jun 30, 2011
Submitted by: Jim Martinkus
Region: Bureau County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 01, 2011
Observation date: Jun 28, 2011
Submitted by: lishh
Region: Marion County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Jul 01, 2011
Observation date: Jul 01, 2011
Submitted by: King.Kobra
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Jul 01, 2011
Observation date: Jun 11, 2011
Submitted by: wcdavis@comcast.net
Region: Williamson County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: jasondroberts
Verified date: Jul 01, 2011
Observation date: Jun 29, 2011
Submitted by: dolphingirl2005
Region: Marion County, Indiana, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Jun 30, 2011
Observation date: Jun 26, 2011
Submitted by: molliestraub
Region: Aroostook County, Maine, United States
Verified by: H.D. McGuinness
Verified date: Jun 29, 2011
Observation date: Jun 27, 2011
Submitted by: auntcarl
Region: Hillsdale County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: Ranger Steve Mueller
Verified date: Jun 29, 2011
Observation date: Jun 07, 2011
Submitted by: fanofcos
Region: Montcalm County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: Ranger Steve Mueller
Verified date: Jun 29, 2011
Observation date: Jun 06, 2011
Submitted by: dnfells@yahoo.com
Region: Lenawee County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: Ranger Steve Mueller
Verified date: Jun 29, 2011
Observation date: Jun 28, 2011
Submitted by: Bhankins2
Region: Franklin County, Indiana, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jun 28, 2011
Observation date: Jun 01, 2011
Submitted by: alliya19
Region: Washington County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Jun 27, 2011
Observation date: Jun 15, 2011
Submitted by: LoMo
Region: Jefferson County, Indiana, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Jun 27, 2011
Observation date: Jun 24, 2011
Submitted by: babyjmh2
Region: Clinton County, Iowa, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Jun 27, 2011
Observation date: Jun 25, 2011
Submitted by: Miller98
Region: Montgomery County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jun 26, 2011
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