Hyalophora cecropia
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(Linnaeus, 1758) Phalaena Bombyx cecropia

Hyalophora cecropia female, courtesy of Bonnie J. Caruthers

This site has been created by Bill Oehlke at oehlkew@islandtelecom.com
Comments, suggestions and/or additional information are welcomed by Bill.

TAXONOMY: Superfamily: Bombycoidea, Latreille, 1802 Family: Saturniidae, Boisduval, [1837] 1834 Subfamily: Saturniinae, Boisduval, [1837] 1834 Tribe: Attacini Genus: Hyalophora Duncan, 1841

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DISTRIBUTION:

The cecropia moth (Hyalophora cecropia), one of North America's largest silkmoths with a wingspan of approximately six inches, flies in all Canadian provinces except British Columbia and Newfoundland. In the U.S., there are some highly localized populations reported in (Washington and Utah (both states doubtful, probably misidentifications)), but generally the moth is absent west of mid-Montana, mid-Wyoming, mid-Colorado, and mid-Texas. To the east, is it very abundant in many states.

A single specimen is recorded from Veracruz, Mexico.

Hyalophora cecropia female (note antennae), courtesy of Darrell Gulin.

FLIGHT TIMES:

Like all Hyalophora species, cecropia is univoltine, i.e., there is only one brood each year. Cecropia moths emerge from mid May until early July in the top half of their range, and tend to emerge from March through May in the more southern regions. Bimodal emergences (emergence peaks that occur at distinct periods) are reported in some areas, particularly the midwest, where approximately twenty percent of livestock emerges in late May or early June. The remainder of the stock begins emerging about two weeks later.

Hyalophora cecropia male (note antennae), courtesy of Erik and Kathy Olson.

Ron Votaw reports a wild female at lights, March 10, 2008, Comal County, Texas.

Occasionally there may be two broods, but this seems to be extremely rare.

Over the last several years I have received sporadic accounts of Hyalophora cecropia emerging from cocoons without going through a winter diapause. A couple of weeks ago Dirk Bayer, Alabama, reported a cecropia eclosion from his spring reared stock. Most recently, October 14, Debbie Lee, Alabama, reported two eclosions from spring reared stock. I started counting backwards and find that these moths are eclosing almost seven months later than the flight of the parent moths. I am wondering if there is a set photo period that is triggering these eclosions?? Hours of daylight would have been about the same in February-March leading up to the March eclosions as they have been in September-October leading up to the October eclosions. I suspect these southern moths will try for a partial second brood (ie, most will remain in diapause throughout the winter, but a small percentage will eclose).

ECLOSION:

Photo by Dan MacKinnon for Bill Oehlke

Cecropia tend to emerge in mid morning from relatively large cocoons and have little trouble slipping through the loose valves in both the inner and outer cocoons. The adult moths quickly climb to hang and inflate their wings.

Hyalophora cecropia female, courtesy of Darrell Gulin.

SCENTING AND MATING:

Male cecropia have been marked and are known to have flown over seven miles in search of the wind-born female pheromone scent plume. After the couple separates the following evening, males are on the wing again and some males have successfully fertilized as many as three females. Hybridization occurs with other Hyalophora species where distribution areas overlap. Here in the northeast, H. columbia matings occur just before dawn while cecropia are more likely to begin mating from 10:00 pm until 3:30 am. Cecropia mate readily in captivity, even in small cages.

Photo courtesy of Mike Soroka.

The striking coloration of the wings is evident in this mating pair. The female to the left has a heavier body and lacks the well developed antennae of the male. Most Hyalophora species mate in the early morning hours, just before dawn, and remain coupled until the following evening. Some populations, however, tend to mate shortly after dusk.

Ian Miller in Wisconsin reports, May 12-13, 2011, "First pairing from the cecropias I pulled April 9-12. 10 gram female with 8 gram male." The first eclosions were 33 days after the cocoons were pulled from cold storage and then kept at 65 degrees.

EGGS, LARVAE AND COCOONS:

Large eggs with reddish brown mottling are deposited in short rows of three to six on host food plants. Black first instar larvae eat a portion of their eggshells to escape and tend to be gregarious, lining up side by side on the underside of a leaf.

Second instar larvae with yellow/green bodies and black protuberances are also gregarious and progress rapidly. As larvae move into the third instar the orange-red thoracic tubercles appear. This strip of images is by Pete Honl.

Third, fourth, and fifth instar larvae are similar in their spectacular appearance. Most larvae spend approximately one week in each instar (a growth period ended by a shedding of old skin) except the final one of two weeks where a total length of 4.5 inches is often reached.

Large cocoons are always fastened lengthwise to branches, stems, trunks of the host plant or neighboring locations. Sometimes a leaf wrap is used, but often the caterpillar will fashion its cocoon without the aid of any props. A loose valve is spun at the pointed top of the oblong cocoon and another valve is arranged at the top of a denser, inner cocoon.

Mature cecropia larvae which can exceed 3.5 inches in length are spectacular in size an appearance. Unfortunately they often become easy targets for parasitic wasps. Leroy Simon image to the left.

Visit Hyalophora cecropia hatchlings, courtesy of Alex Baranowski.

Visit Hyalophora cecropia third, fourth and fifth instars, courtesy of Leroy Simon.

Visit Hyalophora cecropia male, recto and verso, courtesy of Kathy and Erik Olson.

Visit Hyalophora cecropia female, recto and verso, Ottawa, Ontario, June 4, 2011, courtesy of Marguerite Hayes.

Visit Hyalophora cecropia sketch by Shaina L. Noggle.

Visit Hyalophora cecropia variations: female with prominent white bands; male with prominent red bands, courtesy of Derek Bridgehouse.

Visit Hyalophora cecropia second and third instars, focus stacking, courtesy of Rod Millar.

Listed below are primary food plant(s) and alternate food plants listed in Stephen E. Stone's Foodplants of World Saturniidae and/oron variousinternet resources. It is hoped that this alphabetical listing followed by the common name of the foodplant will prove useful. The list is not exhaustive. Experimenting with closely related foodplants is worthwhile.

Prunus pensylvanica Alnus rugosa Acer dasycarpum Acer plantanoides Acer negundo Acer rubrum Acer spicatum Acer saccharinum Ailanthus altissima Alnus glutinosa Alnus incana Alnus serrulata Amelanchier canadensis.. Aronia arbutifolia Berberis vulgaris Betula alba Betula alleghaniensis Betula excelsea Betula lenta Betula papyrifera Betula populifolia Carpinus americana Carya illinoensis Ceanothus Corylus americana Corylus rostrata Crataegus coccinea Crataegus tomentosa Crataegus crus-galli Fagus grandifolia Fagus ferruginea Fraxinus Gleditsia triacanthos Juglans nigra Juglans regia Juniperus virginiana Liquidambar styraciflua Liriodendron tulipifera Myrica carolinensis Myrica cerifera Nyssa sylvatica Platanus occidentalis Populus balsamifera Populus tremuloides Prunus americana Prunus domestica Prunus laurocerasus Prunus pennsylvanica Prunus serotina Prunus virginiana Pyrus americana Pyrus communis Pyrus coronaria Pyrus malus Quercus alba Ribes floridum Ribes rubrum Rubus Salix alba Salix discolor Salix humulis Salix lucida Salix viminalis Sambucus canadensis Sambucus pubens Spiraea latifolia Spiraea opulifola Spiraea salicifolia Spiraea tomentosa Syringa vulgaris Tilia americana Tilia europaea Ulmus americana Ulmus Ulmus racemosa Vaccinium Viburnum cassinoides

Pin cherry Speckled alder Silver maple Norway maple Box elder/Manitoba maple Red maple Mountain maple Silver maple Chinese tree of heaven European/Black alder White alder Hazel alder Thicket serviceberry Red chokeberry Common barberry White birch Yellow birch Low Birch Sweet birch White/paper birch Gray birch American hornbeam Pecan Wild lilac American hazelnut Beaked hazelnut Scarlet hawthorn Pear hawthorn Cockspur hawthorn American beech American beech Ash Honey locust Black walnut (Mathew Phillips) English walnut Cedar Sweetgum Tuliptree/White poplar Bayberry Southern bayberry/Waxmyrtle Black gum Sycamore Balsam poplar Quaking aspen Domestic plum Garden plum Cherry laurel Pin cherry Wild black cherry Chokecherry American mountain ash Pear American crab apple Apple White oak American black currant Red currant Bramble European white willow Pussy willow Prairie willow Shining willow Basket willow American elderberry American red elderberry Meadowsweet Spiraea Willowleaf spiraea Hardhack Common lilac American basswood Common lime American elm Slippery elm Rock elm Blueberry Withe rod

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