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 2117 verified sightings
Observation date: Jun 16, 2024
Submitted by: J_Martineau
Region: Dawes County, Nebraska, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Nov 19, 2024
Observation date: May 27, 2024
Submitted by: WValentine
Region: Caddo Parish, Louisiana, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Sep 05, 2024
Observation date: Sep 01, 2024
Submitted by: Eedp
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Sep 01, 2024
Observation date: May 29, 2024
Submitted by: ButtahflyEtn37354
Region: Monroe County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Aug 31, 2024
Observation date: Aug 13, 2024
Submitted by: Emercer
Region: Onondaga County, New York, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Aug 14, 2024
Observation date: Aug 13, 2024
Submitted by: Emercer
Region: Onondaga County, New York, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Aug 14, 2024
Observation date: Jul 20, 2024
Submitted by: mourning.cloak
Region: Rice County, Minnesota, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jul 20, 2024
Observation date: Jul 10, 2024
Submitted by: Sublake
Region: Ozaukee County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Ilona L.
Verified date: Jul 13, 2024
Observation date: Jun 22, 2024
Submitted by: Brookhaus_Michigan
Region: Eaton County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jun 26, 2024
Observation date: Jun 22, 2024
Submitted by: Brookhaus_Michigan
Region: Eaton County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jun 26, 2024
Observation date: Jun 13, 2024
Submitted by: keyofpel
Region: Kennebec County, Maine, United States
Verified by: Sue Gregoire
Verified date: Jun 14, 2024
Observation date: Jun 11, 2024
Submitted by: hills3alive
Region: Cheshire County, New Hampshire, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jun 13, 2024
Observation date: Jun 05, 2024
Submitted by: turtlefish
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jun 06, 2024
Observation date: May 28, 2024
Submitted by: Joseph Miller
Region: Reno County, Kansas, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: May 31, 2024
Observation date: May 26, 2024
Submitted by: Zula
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: May 28, 2024
Observation date: May 26, 2024
Submitted by: Stephen Muise
Region: Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: May 26, 2024
Observation date: May 26, 2024
Submitted by: Stephen Muise
Region: Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: May 26, 2024
Observation date: May 23, 2024
Submitted by: Paul McKee
Region: Sedgwick County, Kansas, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: May 23, 2024
Observation date: May 20, 2024
Submitted by: BrettM
Region: Steuben County, Indiana, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: May 20, 2024
Observation date: May 09, 2024
Submitted by: Christy McKay
Region: Bossier Parish, Louisiana, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: May 18, 2024
Observation date: May 11, 2024
Submitted by: Anniesbutterflies24
Region: Juniata County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: May 11, 2024
Observation date: Apr 24, 2024
Submitted by: mabbott
Region: Hanover County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Apr 26, 2024
Observation date: Sep 02, 2020
Submitted by: HobbesandAbbey21
Region: Polk County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Mar 16, 2024
Observation date: Dec 01, 2020
Submitted by: eattaway92
Region: Will County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Feb 18, 2024
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