C. splendens sinaloensis on Sweetgum. The moth tends to fly in desert arroyos where manzita and wild cotton are found. Sinaloensis fly from early July to mid-August. Larvae prefer wild cotton and manzita but accept sweetgum, walnut and sumac species.
Separation occurs the following evening when females begin their ovapositing flights.
Both sexes come to lights, but females much less readily than males. Incubation lasts 7-10 days with larvae becoming visible through transparent eggshells a day or so before emergence. Long thoracic spines are well developed at emergence as evidenced by five day old larva to the right. Container reared larvae tended to leave foliage when not feeding to fasten a silk pad to the side of the container. When disturbed, the larvae thrash the thorax rapidly from side to side.