Io moth facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Io moth |
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| Female (top) and male (below) | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Automeris
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| Species: |
io
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The Automeris io is a fascinating insect known as the Io moth. It lives across North America and has some amazing ways to protect itself from animals that want to eat it.
Adult Io moths have a clever two-part defense system. First, when their wings are closed, they are camouflaged. This means they blend in with their surroundings, making them hard to see. If a predator gets too close, the moth quickly flashes its bright "eyespots" on its hindwings. These spots look a lot like the eyes of a much bigger animal, like an owl! This sudden flash can scare the predator, giving the moth time to fly away and hide.
Io moths are nocturnal, which means they are active only at night. During the day, they rest quietly on tree trunks or branches.
You can find the Io moth in many places! It lives all the way from southern Canada down to Mexico and Costa Rica. It is also very common across the USA.
Life Cycle
Adult Moths
Adult Io moths do not eat anything at all! They only live for about a week. Their main job is to reproduce and lay eggs. This is typical for a group of moths called Saturniid moths.
Male and female Io moths look different, which is called sexual dimorphism. You can see this in the pictures. Both males and females fly at night. Female moths come out of their cocoon with eggs already formed inside them. Male moths have very large antennae that help them find females by sensing special scents called pheromones.
Caterpillars
Io moth caterpillars live together in groups. This is called being gregarious. They often travel in a single line across the plants they eat. When they are young, they are orange. As they grow, they turn a bright green color.
As the caterpillars get bigger, they become covered with stinging spines. These spines can deliver a very painful venom if you touch them. It's always a good idea to avoid touching caterpillars with lots of hair or spines unless you are an expert!
Images for kids
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7746 – Automeris io – Io Moth (27522147070).jpg
Adult male io moth
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7746 – Automeris io – Io Moth (47990121411).jpg
Eyespots on a female moth
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First instar on Quercus virginiana
See also
In Spanish: Mariposa io para niños
