Io Moth (7746)

Automeris io

Family Saturniidae (silkworms), subfamily Hemileucinae (buck moths)

Photograph copyright by Tony Leukering

15 June 2012 (male, upper), 17 June 2012 (female), 13 June 2012 (male, lower)

Belleplain State Forest HQ

CMMP block F09 (males), S08 (female)
Distribution map

The Io Moth is quite attractive, with its extensive yellow (male) or bronzy-gray to purplish (female) wings and long, furry yellow forelegs. However, this species presents our first example of a particular phenomenon scattered widely through Lepidoptera, particularly among moths, and present in quite a few other orders of insects (and, in fact, even in some vertebrate groups). That phenomenon is the presence of an appearance feature that is startling, with its presumed aim at causing would-be predators a bit of consternation and, thus, to forgo eating the startling individual insect. In quite a few moth species, this startling effect is created by a vague or precise representation of vertebrate eyes, usually one that can be suddenly uncovered. The male Io Moth has both. When at typical rest posture (as above), dark discal patches on the forewings can create the appearance of eyes. However, should a predator ignore that suggestion of a much-larger-and-perhaps-dangerous-to-the-predator animal, the moth flicks spread its forewings to reveal a startlingly strong suggestion of large eyes.