Community identification
Hickory Horned Devil
Citheronia regalis
- Order & Family
- Lepidoptera: Saturniidae
- Size
- Up to 5.5 inches (14 cm) in length
Natural Habitat
Deciduous forests and woodlands in the eastern United States
Diet & Feeding
Leaves of hickory, walnut, sweetgum, persimmon, and sumac trees
Behavior Patterns
Late-stage larvae are known for their formidable appearance and large size. They burrow into the ground to pupate in the late summer and emerge the following year as the Regal Moth.
Risks & Benefits
Harmless to humans; despite their fierce appearance, they do not sting or bite. Historically, they provide ecosystem benefits as a food source for birds and small mammals and eventually become large pollinators as moths.