Io Moth Caterpillar - Automeris io - BugGuide.Net

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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Butterflies and Moths (Lepidoptera) » Silkworm, Sphinx, and Royal Moths (Bombycoidea) » Giant Silkworm and Royal Moths (Saturniidae) » Buck and Io Moths (Hemileucinae) » Hemileucini » Automeris » Io Moth - Hodges#7746 (Automeris io)

Photo#73373

Copyright © 2006 Mark Edward Honstein

Io Moth Caterpillar - Automeris io

Roosevelt National Forest, Big Thompson Canyon, w. of Loveland, Larimer County, Colorado, USA
August 26, 2006
Size: 7-8 cm

I found this IO Moth Caterpillar in Willow bushes on the riverbank

Images of this individual: tag all

IO Moth Caterpillar - Automeris io trio - Automeris io

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Contributed by Mark Edward Honstein on 27 August, 2006 - 7:29pm
Last updated 6 October, 2010 - 10:19pm

Io Moth

Automeris io. Nice find! It has stinging spines, so best not to handle. Looks like it could be on willow, one of its listed host plants - can you confirm?

… Hannah Nendick-Mason, 27 August, 2006 - 7:32pm

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You are correct. Thanks!

Yes. Found the three of them on the riverbank in a bunch of willow bushes. I thought they were fuzzy at first until I zoomed in with the camera. After that I only moved the willow to position them for the pictures. Thanks for the ID and warning. Luckily the dog had his nose to the ground, he loves bugs :(

… Mark Edward Honstein, 27 August, 2006 - 7:56pm

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Moved to guide

- and edited the scientific name out of your title, as it shows up automatically. I'm not sure about including the second image, since its so fuzzy, but I thought it was interesting to see three full-size larvae feeding so close together, so I've kept it for now - other editors might disagree.

… Hannah Nendick-Mason, 27 August, 2006 - 8:16pm

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Another image?

I've got another image that isn't fuzzy, but it is only of a single caterpillar and you can't see its head. Would you like me to add it? Thanks again.

… Mark Edward Honstein, 27 August, 2006 - 8:35pm

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It would be similar to this one, except lacking the head

so it wouldn't add any new information to the guide, and is probably not worth posting. The detail on this one is all we need for the ID. Thanks for the offer, though!

… Hannah Nendick-Mason, 28 August, 2006 - 10:27am

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