Cecropia Moth
Hyalophora cecropia (Drury, 1773)
Family: Saturniidae
Status: Resident, once common but now being found with less frequency.
Range: From the east coast westward through the Dakotas, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma and central Texas.
Larval Hostplant(s): Larvae feed on a large number of woody trees and shrubs including, but not limited to wild cherries and plums (Prunus), apples (Malus), birch (Betulaceae), dogwoods (Cornus), and willows (Salix), lilacs (Syringa) and Grapes (Vitis).
NENHP Ranking: Not listed
Broods/Flight Times: One brood which normally emerges in late spring to early summer.
Habitat: Equally at home in urban and native habitats.
Avg. Wingspan: 4 1/4 – 6 Inches
Found at: Ash Hollow State Historical Park, Audubon’s Rowe Sanctuary, Box Elder Wildlife Management Area, Burwell Pond, Crescent Lake National Wildlife Refuge, Fontenelle Forest, Gilbert-Baker Wildlife Management Area, Hackberry Creek Wildlife Management Area, Homestead National Monument, Indian Cave State Park, Kinter’s Ford Wildlife Management Area, Table Rock Wildlife Management Area, Niobrara Valley Preserve, Wildcat Hills State Recreation Area, Williow Creek State Recreation Area.
Overwintering: as pupa.
Similar Species: Glover’s Silkmoth has a more reddish to maroon appearance and lacks the bright red band bordering the transverse white band that is present on cecropia. It is western in distribution and, in Nebraska, found only in the panhandle.
Notes:
🔗Links: Moth Photographers Group, BugGuide.net.
