Moths of North Carolina
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View PDFSaturniidae Members: Hyalophora Members: 102 NC Records

Hyalophora cecropia (Linnaeus, 1758) - Cecropia Moth

Hyalophora cecropia
view caption 		Hyalophora cecropiaHyalophora cecropiaHyalophora cecropia
view caption
Taxonomy
Superfamily:
Bombycoidea		 Family:
Saturniidae		Subfamily:
Saturniinae		Tribe:
Attacini		P3 Number:
890082		 MONA Number:
7767.00		 Other Common Name:
Robin Moth
Comments: One of two members of this genus that occurs in eastern North America and the only one in our area (the Columbia Silkmoth, Hyalophora columbia, occurs in eastern Canada and New England)
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Covell (1984); Beadle and Leckie (2012)Online Resources: MPG, BugGuide, iNaturalist, Google, BAMONA, GBIF, BOLDTechnical Description, Adults: Forbes (1923), Ferguson (1972), Tuskes et al. (1996)Technical Description, Immature Stages: Covell (1984), Wagner (2005)                                                                                 
Adult Markings: Adults are unmistakable. Along with the Polyphemus Moth (Antheraea polyphemus), this is one of our largest resident moths, possessing a wingspan of 4-6 inches (exceeded in size only by the Black Witch, a tropical stray). This species is a darker grayish brown than the generally tan Polyphemus and also possesses distinctive white and red bands on the wings and extensive areas of red on the thorax and abdomen. Unlike the elliptical spots on the wings of the Polyphemus, the spots on the Cecropia are crescent-shaped.
Wingspan: 125-165 mm (Forbes, 1923)
Adult ID Requirements: Unmistakable and widely known.
Immatures and Development: The large pale green larvae are also easily recognized by its rows of red, yellow, and blue knobs running the length of the body (Callosamia larvae are similar but the knobs are restricted to the anterior and posterior; see Wagner, 2005, for details).
Larvae ID Requirements: Identifiable from good quality photos, especially where associated with known host plants.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution: Occurs state-wide but is generally not common (Brimley, 1938). Populations in the peatlands and flatwoods of the Coastal Plain appear to be the most robust, with multiple individuals often collected at UV traps (a maximum of 11 were recorded at one site).
County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.
Hyalophora cecropia
Flight Dates:
 High Mountains (HM) ≥ 4,000 ft.
 Low Mountains (LM) < 4,000 ft.
 Piedmont (Pd)
 Coastal Plain (CP)

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