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 2117 verified sightings
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Observation date: Mar 11, 2021
Submitted by: eattaway92
Region: Will County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Feb 18, 2024
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Observation date: Jun 09, 2023
Submitted by: J_Martineau
Region: Sheridan County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Oct 11, 2023
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Observation date: Aug 29, 2023
Submitted by: Amcenhill
Region: Dutchess County, New York, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Aug 30, 2023
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Observation date: Mar 02, 2023
Submitted by: Birdwatcher5
Region: Volusia County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Aug 13, 2023
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Observation date: Aug 07, 2023
Submitted by: Amcenhill
Region: Dutchess County, New York, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Aug 07, 2023
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Observation date: Jul 31, 2023
Submitted by: Susanurban
Region: Vinton County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Aug 02, 2023
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Observation date: Jul 08, 2023
Submitted by: JMJaskula
Region: Newton County, Indiana, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 15, 2023
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Observation date: Jul 10, 2023
Submitted by: mitzis
Region: Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jul 11, 2023
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Observation date: Jun 16, 2023
Submitted by: rohrjk
Region: Washington County, Vermont, United States
Verified by: Tom Clark
Verified date: Jul 05, 2023
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Observation date: Jun 28, 2023
Submitted by: pearlxlraep
Region: Nova Scotia, Canada
Verified by: Sue Gregoire
Verified date: Jun 29, 2023
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Observation date: Jun 22, 2023
Submitted by: Acclaimedmadwoman
Region: Rowan County, Kentucky, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jun 23, 2023
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Observation date: Jun 14, 2023
Submitted by: Alayne
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jun 15, 2023
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Observation date: Jun 11, 2023
Submitted by: JNNJR
Region: Jackson County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jun 14, 2023
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Observation date: Jun 03, 2023
Submitted by: Tatalata
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jun 13, 2023
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Observation date: Jun 09, 2023
Submitted by: mattvc03
Region: Bayfield County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Ilona L.
Verified date: Jun 10, 2023
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Observation date: Jun 02, 2023
Submitted by: dunnlynn
Region: Schoharie County, New York, United States
Verified by: Sue Gregoire
Verified date: Jun 02, 2023
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Observation date: May 17, 2023
Submitted by: James Steen
Region: Marion County, Kansas, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: May 20, 2023
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Observation date: May 03, 2023
Submitted by: KimmyP
Region: Bell County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: May 07, 2023
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Observation date: Mar 23, 2023
Submitted by: Mikelchap
Region: Glynn County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Mar 24, 2023
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Observation date: Apr 05, 2022
Submitted by: walkerlandri
Region: Long County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Mar 17, 2023
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Observation date: Aug 25, 2020
Submitted by: naj.pilla
Region: Porter County, Indiana, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Feb 20, 2023
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Observation date: May 09, 2012
Submitted by: naj.pilla
Region: Porter County, Indiana, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Feb 20, 2023
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Observation date: Feb 12, 2023
Submitted by: Jay Brasher
Region: Lincoln County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Feb 18, 2023
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Observation date: May 24, 2019
Submitted by: Zowen
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Sep 23, 2022
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