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 577 - 600 of 1076 verified sightings
Observation date: Jun 23, 2000
Submitted by: magnunc
Region: Howard County, Maryland, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 14, 2012
Observation date: Jun 30, 2012
Submitted by: curious475
Region: Page County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 14, 2012
Observation date: Jul 12, 2012
Submitted by: p2brashear
Region: Perry County, Kentucky, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 13, 2012
Observation date: Jun 28, 2012
Submitted by: DDMPI
Region: Gadsden County, Florida, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Jul 12, 2012
Observation date: Jul 12, 2012
Submitted by: ceceslaton
Region: Floyd County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Jul 12, 2012
Observation date: Jul 08, 2012
Submitted by: ngause1
Region: Virginia, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 10, 2012
Observation date: Jul 08, 2012
Submitted by: joe lobay
Region: Stark County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 09, 2012
Observation date: Jun 19, 2012
Submitted by: nolechik
Region: Marion County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jul 09, 2012
Observation date: Jul 08, 2012
Submitted by: amymorgandonais
Region: Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jul 09, 2012
Observation date: Jun 23, 2012
Submitted by: bethannelevine
Region: York County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 08, 2012
Observation date: Jul 08, 2012
Submitted by: DianeCarterRealtor
Region: Montgomery County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 08, 2012
Observation date: Jun 26, 2012
Submitted by: sillylilly
Region: Johnston County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 06, 2012
Observation date: Jun 28, 2012
Submitted by: speelmanc
Region: Carroll County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Jun 28, 2012
Observation date: Jun 26, 2012
Submitted by: Becky Byrum
Region: Brown County, Indiana, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Jun 27, 2012
Observation date: Jun 20, 2012
Submitted by: RMOESSER
Region: Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jun 21, 2012
Observation date: Jun 20, 2012
Submitted by: tracycambron
Region: Hamilton County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Jun 20, 2012
Observation date: Jun 17, 2012
Submitted by: jessechudeusz
Region: Lake County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jun 17, 2012
Observation date: Jun 06, 2012
Submitted by: Keith Richmond
Region: Barry County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: Phillip E. Koenig
Verified date: Jun 11, 2012
Observation date: Jun 10, 2010
Submitted by: librarylady
Region: Morgan County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: Phillip E. Koenig
Verified date: Jun 01, 2012
Observation date: May 24, 2012
Submitted by: Val160
Region: Dickson County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: Don Tangren
Verified date: May 25, 2012
Observation date: Jul 16, 2011
Submitted by: CWR
Region: Fayette County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: May 22, 2012
Observation date: May 15, 2012
Submitted by: the.kelly.carpe...
Region: Christian County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: Phillip E. Koenig
Verified date: May 16, 2012
Observation date: May 13, 2012
Submitted by: katherinehope17
Region: Benton County, Arkansas, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: May 13, 2012
Observation date: Jun 28, 2011
Submitted by: pfinkes
Region: St. Louis County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: Phillip E. Koenig
Verified date: May 05, 2012
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