Royal Walnut Moth
Citheronia regalis (Fabricius, 1793)
Family: Saturniidae
Subfamily: Ceratocampinae
Identification: Females are larger than males. Upperside of forewing is gray with red-orange veins and creamy yellow spots. Upperside of hindwing is orange with creamy yellow at the costa and inner margin.
Wing Span: 3 15/16 - 6 1/4 inches (10 - 16 cm).
Life History: Adults emerge in late evening and mate the following evening. Females begin laying eggs at dusk the next day, depositing them in groups of 1-3 on both sides of host plant leaves. Eggs hatch within 6-10 days, and the caterpillars (known as the Hickory Horned Devil) feed alone. Young caterpillars rest on the tops of leaves and resemble bird droppings, while older caterpillars appear menacing because they are very large and brightly colored with red "horns" near the head. Caterpillars pupate in a burrow in the soil.
Flight: One brood from May through mid-September.
Caterpillar Hosts: Hickories (Carya), pecan (C. illinoensis), butternut (Juglans cinerea), black walnut (J. nigra), sweet gum (Liquidambar styraciflua), persimmon (Diospyros virginiana), sumacs (Rhus), cultivated cotton (Gossypium), and others.
Adult Food: Adults do not feed.
Habitat: Deciduous woods.
Range: New York west through southern Michigan and Illinois to eastern Kansas; south to central Florida, the Gulf states, and east Texas.
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 1059 verified sightings
Observation date: Jul 21, 2023
Submitted by: KatieH0021
Region: Owsley County, Kentucky, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 23, 2023
Observation date: Jul 22, 2023
Submitted by: LindseyGeorge
Region: Hamilton County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 23, 2023
Observation date: Jul 20, 2023
Submitted by: Kassysbutterfly
Region: Lancaster County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Jul 20, 2023
Observation date: Jul 17, 2023
Submitted by: Arubakt
Region: Dorchester County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 17, 2023
Observation date: Jul 07, 2023
Submitted by: Funkyslomo
Region: Frederick County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 07, 2023
Observation date: Jun 22, 2023
Submitted by: Julie R.
Region: Suwannee County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jun 22, 2023
Observation date: Jun 22, 2023
Submitted by: JamieLynn
Region: Aiken County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Jun 22, 2023
Observation date: Apr 08, 2023
Submitted by: Winston22
Region: Leon County, Florida, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Apr 20, 2023
Observation date: Jun 13, 2016
Submitted by: greenesnake@yah...
Region: Gibson County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Mar 12, 2023
Observation date: Aug 29, 2022
Submitted by: calvertm
Region: Tyler County, West Virginia, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Sep 12, 2022
Observation date: Sep 08, 2022
Submitted by: stevencarlsen
Region: Charles County, Maryland, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Sep 11, 2022
Observation date: Jun 21, 2021
Submitted by: Brianna115
Region: Newton County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: jamesdurbin
Verified date: Sep 05, 2022
Observation date: Jun 23, 2021
Submitted by: Dustintheengineer
Region: Greene County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: jamesdurbin
Verified date: Sep 05, 2022
Observation date: Jul 29, 2022
Submitted by: angelafeb8
Region: Laclede County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: jamesdurbin
Verified date: Sep 05, 2022
Observation date: Jun 13, 2021
Submitted by: Katie.eliza.gre...
Region: Anderson County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Aug 31, 2022
Observation date: Aug 03, 2022
Submitted by: wade wander
Region: Sussex County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: BarbSendelbach
Verified date: Aug 04, 2022
Observation date: Jul 24, 2022
Submitted by: Allen B
Region: Fentress County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: Allen B
Verified date: Jul 30, 2022
Observation date: Jul 26, 2022
Submitted by: Racarnell
Region: Fayette County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 27, 2022
Observation date: Jul 26, 2022
Submitted by: avirden24
Region: Jefferson County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 26, 2022
Observation date: Jul 25, 2022
Submitted by: Les in Ohio
Region: Guernsey County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 25, 2022
Observation date: Jul 23, 2022
Submitted by: LiaC-8
Region: Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jul 24, 2022
Observation date: Jul 24, 2022
Submitted by: Laura Hill
Region: Gwinnett County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Jul 24, 2022
Observation date: Jul 23, 2022
Submitted by: kmiller2383
Region: Washington County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 23, 2022
Observation date: Jul 22, 2022
Submitted by: CShermArol
Region: Washington County, Arkansas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Jul 22, 2022
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