Royal Walnut Moth
Citheronia regalis (Fabricius, 1793)
Family: Saturniidae
Subfamily: Ceratocampinae
Identification: Females are larger than males. Upperside of forewing is gray with red-orange veins and creamy yellow spots. Upperside of hindwing is orange with creamy yellow at the costa and inner margin.
Wing Span: 3 15/16 - 6 1/4 inches (10 - 16 cm).
Life History: Adults emerge in late evening and mate the following evening. Females begin laying eggs at dusk the next day, depositing them in groups of 1-3 on both sides of host plant leaves. Eggs hatch within 6-10 days, and the caterpillars (known as the Hickory Horned Devil) feed alone. Young caterpillars rest on the tops of leaves and resemble bird droppings, while older caterpillars appear menacing because they are very large and brightly colored with red "horns" near the head. Caterpillars pupate in a burrow in the soil.
Flight: One brood from May through mid-September.
Caterpillar Hosts: Hickories (Carya), pecan (C. illinoensis), butternut (Juglans cinerea), black walnut (J. nigra), sweet gum (Liquidambar styraciflua), persimmon (Diospyros virginiana), sumacs (Rhus), cultivated cotton (Gossypium), and others.
Adult Food: Adults do not feed.
Habitat: Deciduous woods.
Range: New York west through southern Michigan and Illinois to eastern Kansas; south to central Florida, the Gulf states, and east Texas.
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 49 - 72 of 1059 verified sightings
Observation date: Jul 21, 2022
Submitted by: Leslie Warren
Region: Mahoning County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 22, 2022
Observation date: Jul 13, 2022
Submitted by: Chasb12
Region: Jackson County, Alabama, United States
Verified by: jasondroberts
Verified date: Jul 21, 2022
Observation date: Jul 18, 2022
Submitted by: mattylaw39
Region: Beaver County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jul 19, 2022
Observation date: Jul 19, 2022
Submitted by: Amanda1721
Region: Franklin County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jul 19, 2022
Observation date: Jul 18, 2022
Submitted by: DpacShakur
Region: Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jul 19, 2022
Observation date: Jul 16, 2022
Submitted by: Brosia
Region: Stark County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 17, 2022
Observation date: Jul 14, 2022
Submitted by: Pat Foster-Turley
Region: Nassau County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jul 14, 2022
Observation date: Jul 12, 2022
Submitted by: StevebrownLepid
Region: Lynchburg, Virginia, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 13, 2022
Observation date: Jul 05, 2022
Submitted by: She-rah
Region: Habersham County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Jul 13, 2022
Observation date: Jul 08, 2022
Submitted by: tlogston3
Region: Summers County, West Virginia, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jul 09, 2022
Observation date: Jun 30, 2022
Submitted by: Jhstrong
Region: Hall County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Jul 01, 2022
Observation date: Jun 23, 2022
Submitted by: Boymom2007
Region: Benton County, Arkansas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Jun 29, 2022
Observation date: Jun 29, 2022
Submitted by: tlrosner70
Region: Craven County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jun 29, 2022
Observation date: Jun 28, 2022
Submitted by: Watermelonstand
Region: Suwannee County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jun 28, 2022
Observation date: Jun 08, 2022
Submitted by: Trimmel
Region: Warren County, Kentucky, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jun 08, 2022
Observation date: Jun 03, 2022
Submitted by: pdean61
Region: Conway County, Arkansas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Jun 08, 2022
Observation date: Jun 03, 2022
Submitted by: Bmcfadden2000
Region: Marshall County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jun 04, 2022
Observation date: May 28, 2022
Submitted by: Lori J
Region: Montgomery County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: May 28, 2022
Observation date: Sep 04, 2021
Submitted by: Nina Moring
Region: Gwinnett County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Feb 13, 2022
Observation date: Aug 09, 2021
Submitted by: Allen B
Region: Fentress County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: Allen B
Verified date: Dec 22, 2021
Observation date: Jul 18, 2021
Submitted by: Allen B
Region: Fentress County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: Allen B
Verified date: Dec 22, 2021
Observation date: Aug 03, 2021
Submitted by: Les in Ohio
Region: Guernsey County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Oct 25, 2021
Observation date: Sep 02, 2021
Submitted by: rstarnes
Region: Walker County, Alabama, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Sep 11, 2021
Observation date: Aug 28, 2021
Submitted by: snakeowl
Region: Fulton County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Sep 06, 2021
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