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 25 - 48 of 2109 verified sightings
Observation date: Jun 16, 2023
Submitted by: rohrjk
Region: Washington County, Vermont, United States
Verified by: Tom Clark
Verified date: Jul 05, 2023
Observation date: Jun 28, 2023
Submitted by: pearlxlraep
Region: Nova Scotia, Canada
Verified by: Sue Gregoire
Verified date: Jun 29, 2023
Observation date: Jun 22, 2023
Submitted by: Acclaimedmadwoman
Region: Rowan County, Kentucky, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jun 23, 2023
Observation date: Jun 14, 2023
Submitted by: Alayne
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jun 15, 2023
Observation date: Jun 11, 2023
Submitted by: JNNJR
Region: Jackson County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jun 14, 2023
Observation date: Jun 03, 2023
Submitted by: Tatalata
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jun 13, 2023
Observation date: Jun 09, 2023
Submitted by: mattvc03
Region: Bayfield County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Ilona L.
Verified date: Jun 10, 2023
Observation date: Jun 02, 2023
Submitted by: dunnlynn
Region: Schoharie County, New York, United States
Verified by: Sue Gregoire
Verified date: Jun 02, 2023
Observation date: May 17, 2023
Submitted by: James Steen
Region: Marion County, Kansas, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: May 20, 2023
Observation date: May 03, 2023
Submitted by: KimmyP
Region: Bell County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: May 07, 2023
Observation date: Mar 23, 2023
Submitted by: Mikelchap
Region: Glynn County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Mar 24, 2023
Observation date: Apr 05, 2022
Submitted by: walkerlandri
Region: Long County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Mar 17, 2023
Observation date: Aug 25, 2020
Submitted by: naj.pilla
Region: Porter County, Indiana, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Feb 20, 2023
Observation date: May 09, 2012
Submitted by: naj.pilla
Region: Porter County, Indiana, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Feb 20, 2023
Observation date: Feb 12, 2023
Submitted by: Jay Brasher
Region: Lincoln County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Feb 18, 2023
Observation date: May 24, 2019
Submitted by: Zowen
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Sep 23, 2022
Observation date: May 24, 2019
Submitted by: Zowen
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Sep 23, 2022
Observation date: May 25, 2019
Submitted by: Zowen
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Sep 23, 2022
Observation date: Apr 26, 1976
Submitted by: rengeman
Region: Jefferson County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: charleseharp
Verified date: Sep 19, 2022
Observation date: May 19, 2020
Submitted by: Jcgoodwin
Region: Worth County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: jamesdurbin
Verified date: Sep 17, 2022
Observation date: Jun 12, 2019
Submitted by: husker20
Region: Jackson County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: jamesdurbin
Verified date: Sep 17, 2022
Observation date: Jul 28, 2022
Submitted by: TioCeBoji
Region: Buncombe County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Sep 17, 2022
Observation date: Jul 28, 2022
Submitted by: TioCeBoji
Region: Buncombe County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Sep 02, 2022
Observation date: Aug 27, 2022
Submitted by: Cookiesam
Region: Oxford County, Maine, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Aug 27, 2022
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