io moth

not listed

N5 - Secure

not listed

Io moth is a common, short-lived, day flying, medium to large-sized moth. It occurs in North America east of the Rocky Mountains, in Mexico, and in Central America. Adults are ¾″ to 1⅜″ (20 to 35 mm) long and have a wingspan of 2″ to 3⅛″ (50 to 80 mm).

On the male, the thorax is covered with yellow hairs. On the female it is covered with reddish-brown hairs.

The forewings of the male are bright yellow with dark brown markings. There is always irregular dark spotting on the reniform spot; a dark, jagged, interrupted, antemedial line; and a dark, scalloped, postmedial line that fades in the middle. There is sometimes a dark spot on the outer margin at the wing tip, dark spots along the subterminal line, and a broad dark area on the inner margin. The wingtips are pointed at an angle slightly greater than 90°. The forewings of the female are reddish-brown, dark, and more pointed, the angle slightly less than 90°.

The hindwings are mostly yellow with a large eyespot, a broad red area on the inner margin, and a thin red subterminal line. The eyespot is very large and black, with a gray or blue iris and a white pupil. It is surrounded with bright yellow and a has thin black line below. On the female the eye spot is larger and the subterminal line is wider.

First stage (instar) caterpillars are dark brown. Second and third instars are dull orange or orangish-brown. The fourth instar is tan or beige with a prominent stripe (spiracular stripe) on each side through the breathing pores (spiracles). The spiracular stripe is narrow, white, and bordered above by a thin, red stripe. The fifth (last) instar caterpillar is bright green, also has a thin red and white spiracular stripe, and is up to 2½″ long. On the upper (dorsal) surface of each abdominal segment there is a tuft of pale green, two-branched (bifurcated), irritating (urticating) hairs. There is a similar but smaller tuft on the side of each segment.

Total length: ¾″ to 1⅜″ (20 to 35 mm)

Wingspan: 2″ to 3⅛″ (50 to 80 mm)

Deciduous woodlands and forests, meadows, orchards, parks, and suburban areas

One generation per year: Late May through June

When handled, the irritating hairs on the caterpillar break of in the skin. The sting is similar to that of stinging nettle, but unlike with that plant, the sting lasts for hours.

Eggs are laid on the leaves of host plants. Larvae pass through five stages (instars) in about four weeks. They overwinter in the pupal stage and emerge as adults the following summer. Adults live only one or two weeks.

Mostly leaves of deciduous trees and shrubs, including maple, oak, willow, hackberry, blackberry, and gooseberry; but also leaves of other plants, including corn and clover.

Adults are active during the day. They do not feed. The wings are held closed and flat when at rest. When disturbed they will quickly open their wings displaying the large, owl-like, eye spots on the hindwings.

Sources

21, 24, 27, 29, 30, 71, 75.

Common

...released after pictures taken

Location: Island Lake, Hubbard County

...released after pictures taken