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 1 - 24 of 2143 verified sightings
Observation date: Jun 11, 2026
Submitted by: Sarah Colwell
Region: New Brunswick, Canada
Verified by: Sue Gregoire
Verified date: Jun 12, 2026
Observation date: Jun 06, 2026
Submitted by: Pixy
Region: Alpena County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jun 07, 2026
Observation date: Jun 04, 2026
Submitted by: HRuffner
Region: Erie County, New York, United States
Verified by: Sue Gregoire
Verified date: Jun 04, 2026
Observation date: Jun 01, 2026
Submitted by: Ccy40
Region: Erie County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jun 02, 2026
Observation date: May 29, 2026
Submitted by: Ez_007
Region: Monroe County, New York, United States
Verified by: Sue Gregoire
Verified date: May 31, 2026
Observation date: May 26, 2026
Submitted by: Tim Benson
Region: Monroe County, New York, United States
Verified by: Sue Gregoire
Verified date: May 26, 2026
Observation date: May 23, 2026
Submitted by: naj.pilla
Region: St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: May 25, 2026
Observation date: May 19, 2026
Submitted by: Cruyf1960
Region: Pike County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: May 20, 2026
Observation date: May 19, 2026
Submitted by: donnatrbo
Region: Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: May 19, 2026
Observation date: Apr 22, 2026
Submitted by: MaybelleTorn
Region: Newton County, Arkansas, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Apr 24, 2026
Observation date: Apr 14, 2026
Submitted by: Thesplee
Region: Boone County, Arkansas, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Apr 15, 2026
Observation date: Jun 20, 2025
Submitted by: Bob Jacobson
Region: Chippewa County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Ilona L.
Verified date: Jan 16, 2026
Observation date: May 29, 2022
Submitted by: Petrolfox
Region: Madison County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Oct 04, 2025
Observation date: May 27, 2016
Submitted by: Jay Jeffrey
Region: Pottawattamie County, Iowa, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Aug 31, 2025
Observation date: Jun 28, 2025
Submitted by: cucurbits
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 10, 2025
Observation date: Jul 06, 2025
Submitted by: Sunshine_44
Region: Alberta, Canada
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jul 08, 2025
Observation date: Jun 02, 2025
Submitted by: relpeK
Region: Waseca County, Minnesota, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Jul 05, 2025
Observation date: Jun 30, 2025
Submitted by: Hhorm
Region: Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jul 01, 2025
Observation date: Jun 29, 2025
Submitted by: Mary June
Region: Tuscarawas County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jun 30, 2025
Observation date: Jun 22, 2025
Submitted by: Gwen C
Region: Cumberland County, Maine, United States
Verified by: Sue Gregoire
Verified date: Jun 29, 2025
Observation date: Jun 02, 2025
Submitted by: Bo
Region: McHenry County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jun 08, 2025
Observation date: Jun 03, 2025
Submitted by: SweetD78
Region: Robertson County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jun 08, 2025
Observation date: Jun 01, 2025
Submitted by: Dwild
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jun 04, 2025
Observation date: May 26, 2025
Submitted by: Bkripto
Region: Beaver County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: May 27, 2025
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