| Io Moth (Automeris io) (Fabricius, 1775) |
Automeris io occurs throughout the contiguous United States east of the Rocky Mountains, in southern Canada, and probably in Mexico, and inhabits deciduous forests and woodlands, thornscrub, and treed suburbs. A sexually dimorphic species: forewings, body, and legs are bright yellow in males, and reddish-brown in females; hindwings in both sexes are yellow or orange, with a big black or bluish eyespot in the middle. Wingspan 50-88 mm. Larvae are gregarious, first orange, and then pale blue-green with clusters of stinging spines; up to 70 mm in length. Host plants include various species of Aceraceae, Betulaceae, Ericaceae, Fabaceae, Fagaceae, Malvaceae, Oleaceae, Poaceae, Rosaceae, Salicaceae, Ulmaceae, and even Balsam Fir (Abies balsamea). Adults do not feed. A. io flies from March to September (1-4 broods).
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24670 Io Moth (Automeris io), female Chihuahua Woods Hidalgo County, Texas, USA Copyright © Michael Patrikeev All Rights Reserved |
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