Splendid royal moth
Citheronia splendens (Druce, 1886)
Family: Saturniidae
Subfamily: Ceratocampinae
Identification: Upperside of forewing is dark gray with red veins and white oval spots between the veins. Upperside of hindwing is dark gray on the outer half and cream on the inner half, with red veins and a red wing base.
Wing Span: 4 3/16 - 5 7/8 inches (10.6 - 15 cm).
Life History: Females lay eggs in groups of 1-4 on both sides of host plant leaves. Young caterpillars resemble bird droppings and rest on top of leaves, feeding in the evening. Older caterpillars feed occasionally during the day and rest on leaf petioles or stems. In September the caterpillars burrow into the ground to make pupation chambers.
Flight: One flight from July-August.
Caterpillar Hosts: Wild cotton (Gossypium thurberi), manzanita (Arctostaphylos pungens), New Mexico evergreen sumac (Rhus choriophylla), and squawbush (Rhus trilobata).
Adult Food: Adults do not feed.
Habitat: Riparian corridors and scrubland in foothills.
Range: Southern Arizona south into central and southeastern Mexico.
Conservation: Not usually required.
NCGR: G4 - Apparently secure globally, though it might be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.
Management Needs: None reported.
Comments: NULL
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 25 verified sightings
Observation date: Jul 07, 2013
Submitted by: Ron Parry
Region: Grant County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: apan123
Verified date: May 30, 2022
Observation date: Jul 26, 2013
Submitted by: GCSnelling
Region: Santa Cruz County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: kellyrichers
Verified date: Jul 15, 2016
Observation date: Jul 20, 2014
Submitted by: nightwings8
Region: Santa Cruz County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: kellyrichers
Verified date: Jul 30, 2014
Observation date: Sep 08, 2013
Submitted by: Lois'Pets
Region: Cochise County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Jan 12, 2014
Observation date: Sep 16, 2013
Submitted by: jordabi
Region: Cochise County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Jan 12, 2014
Observation date: Sep 08, 2011
Submitted by: ptosis
Region: Cochise County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Jan 12, 2014
Observation date: Jul 31, 2013
Submitted by: Carrol56
Region: Santa Cruz County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: Robert Martin
Verified date: Aug 20, 2013
Observation date: Aug 04, 2008
Submitted by: Jim Brighton
Region: Cochise County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: kellyrichers
Verified date: May 08, 2012
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: BAMONA
Region:
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Sep 06, 2010
Observation date: Jul 27, 1972
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Michael J. Smith)
Region: Santa Cruz County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (The Lepidopterists' Society Season Summary)
Verified date: Jan 28, 2009
Observation date: Sep 14, 1998
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (James P. Tuttle)
Region: Santa Cruz County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (The Lepidopterists' Society Season Summary)
Verified date: Jan 28, 2009
Observation date: Jul 29, 1981
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Michael J. Smith)
Region: Pima County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (The Lepidopterists' Society Season Summary)
Verified date: Jan 28, 2009
Observation date: Aug 28, 1987
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (James P. Tuttle)
Region: Pima County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (The Lepidopterists' Society Season Summary)
Verified date: Jan 28, 2009
Observation date: Jul 25, 1975
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Paul M. Tuskes)
Region: Santa Cruz County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (The Lepidopterists' Society Season Summary)
Verified date: Jan 28, 2009
Observation date: Jul 30, 1983
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (James P. Tuttle)
Region: Cochise County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (The Lepidopterists' Society Season Summary)
Verified date: Jan 28, 2009
Observation date: Jul 29, 1983
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (James P. Tuttle)
Region: Pima County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (The Lepidopterists' Society Season Summary)
Verified date: Jan 28, 2009
Observation date: Aug 06, 2002
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (B/B)
Region: Santa Cruz County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (The Lepidopterists' Society Season Summary)
Verified date: Jan 28, 2009
Observation date: Aug 28, 1998
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (James P. Tuttle)
Region: Santa Cruz County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (The Lepidopterists' Society Season Summary)
Verified date: Jan 28, 2009
Observation date: Jul 24, 2004
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (B/B)
Region: Pima County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (The Lepidopterists' Society Season Summary)
Verified date: Jan 28, 2009
Observation date: Sep 05, 1976
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Michael J. Smith)
Region: Pima County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (The Lepidopterists' Society Season Summary)
Verified date: Jan 28, 2009
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Sonora, Mexico
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Santa Cruz County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Cochise County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Sinaloa, Mexico
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
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