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 1417 - 1440 of 2149 verified sightings
Observation date: Jun 08, 2011
Submitted by: cdeweese
Region: Johnson County, Kansas, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Jun 11, 2011
Observation date: Jun 08, 2011
Submitted by: mikrosil
Region: Wayne County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Jun 11, 2011
Observation date: Jun 10, 2011
Submitted by: ltaylor0708
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Jun 11, 2011
Observation date: Jun 06, 2011
Submitted by: creekgoddess
Region: Cayuga County, New York, United States
Verified by: H.D. McGuinness
Verified date: Jun 11, 2011
Observation date: Jun 11, 2011
Submitted by: kimmie411
Region: Johnson County, Indiana, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Jun 11, 2011
Observation date: Jun 09, 2011
Submitted by: MRS. MARION
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jun 10, 2011
Observation date: May 31, 2011
Submitted by: wireart
Region: Windham County, Vermont, United States
Verified by: H.D. McGuinness
Verified date: Jun 10, 2011
Observation date: Jun 09, 2011
Submitted by: CrrrlyGirl
Region: Mercer County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Jun 09, 2011
Observation date: Jun 05, 2011
Submitted by: tnjohn
Region: Sumner County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: jasondroberts
Verified date: Jun 09, 2011
Observation date: Jun 04, 2011
Submitted by: Scott Varden
Region: Hardin County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: jasondroberts
Verified date: Jun 09, 2011
Observation date: Jun 08, 2011
Submitted by: Anndee
Region: Benton County, Arkansas, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Jun 09, 2011
Observation date: Jun 08, 2011
Submitted by: sp0ken4
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jun 09, 2011
Observation date: Jun 03, 2011
Submitted by: pmalensek
Region: Ashtabula County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Jun 08, 2011
Observation date: May 29, 2011
Submitted by: r2xman
Region: Erie County, New York, United States
Verified by: H.D. McGuinness
Verified date: Jun 08, 2011
Observation date: Jun 07, 2011
Submitted by: tsquare
Region: Wayne County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Jun 08, 2011
Observation date: May 31, 2011
Submitted by: mif57
Region: Columbia County, New York, United States
Verified by: H.D. McGuinness
Verified date: Jun 08, 2011
Observation date: Jun 05, 2011
Submitted by: sarboleda
Region: Oakland County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Jun 08, 2011
Observation date: Jun 08, 2011
Submitted by: micjohnmartin
Region: Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jun 08, 2011
Observation date: Jun 07, 2011
Submitted by: dailytinker
Region: Christian County, Kentucky, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Jun 07, 2011
Observation date: Jun 06, 2011
Submitted by: twocylinderman
Region: Chisago County, Minnesota, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Jun 06, 2011
Observation date: Jun 02, 2011
Submitted by: mkistler
Region: Sarpy County, Nebraska, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Jun 06, 2011
Observation date: Jun 05, 2011
Submitted by: Michkia
Region: McKean County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jun 06, 2011
Observation date: Jun 02, 2011
Submitted by: majakayfont
Region: Washtenaw County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: Ranger Steve Mueller
Verified date: Jun 06, 2011
Observation date: Jun 04, 2011
Submitted by: HeatherL1972
Region: Davie County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jun 05, 2011
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