Automeris

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Geographic Range Automeris io, the Io moth, is native to the Nearctic region. It is found throughout the eastern half of the United States, as far west as Utah, Colorado, and Texas. Its range extends as far north as Quebec, Ontario, and southern Manitoba. It is also found in eastern Mexico and Costa Rica, in the northernmost portion of the Neotropical region. ( • Biogeographic Regions • • • • Habitat Automeris io is a temperate species, and can be found in a variety of habitats, including deciduous woodlands, forests, meadows, agricultural orchards, suburban parks, and backyards. Larvae can be found feeding on leaves, and usually spin their cocoons to pupate in debris on the ground or in crevices among rocks or wood. ( • Habitat Regions • • • Terrestrial Biomes • • • Other Habitat Features • • Physical Description Adults of this species are considered medium to large-sized moths, with a wingspan of 5 to 9 cm. Automeris io exhibits sexual dimorphism in its coloration. Male forewings are typically bright yellow, while females have dark yellow or brown forewings. Females may also have larger, more pointed forewings. Both males and females have large eyespots on their hindwings; the eyespots are black or blue, with a gray or bluish iris surrounding a white center. The eyespot is often larger and rounder in females than in males. Adults are likely polymorphic, with a large variety of coloration across their range. Southern variations tend to have reddish-brown forewings, while ...

With the return of warm weather, leaves, and insects still weeks away here in the DMV, it’s time to travel to tropical rainforests in Costa Rica to see what’s up with some of our southern neighbors. First stop is the rainforest near the village of Santo Domingo bordering the Savegre River in Costa Rica. Scrambling across the ground near the base of a tree was a magnificent caterpillar. At first glance the identity of this beauty had me stumped, but after picking it up fiery stings to my finger and palm refreshed my memory of its true identity. This caterpillar is a member of the silk moth clan in the genus Automeris. The remarkable color pattern of this extraordinary larva leads me to believe its identity is Automeris metzli, a creature found from Mexico to Ecuador and also on the island of Trinidad, where it munches leaves of oak and less commonly Erythrinaand coconut. You might think that a very large (this one was several inches long) tasty caterpillar would attract the attention of hungry predators. But Automeris caterpillars have a clever defense. Lining their sides and backs are spines loaded with venom. These spikey armaments are called urticating spines. Upon contact by a predator or overcurious human these spines release venom, causing a painful and relatively long lasting sting. For most people this sting resolves without complication but for some it may cause a serious allergic reaction. For me, well, getting up close and personal with this creature was worth so...

List of species • (R. Felder & Rogenhofer, 1874) • Lemaire & Wolfe, 1993 • Lemaire, 1975 • Schaus, 1900 – peacock silkmoth • (Boisduval, 1875) • Bouvier, 1930 • Brechlin & Meister, 2011 • Schaus, 1906 • (Stoll, 1781) • Lemaire, 2002 • Druce, 1886 • Lemaire, 1966 • (Boisduval, 1875) • (Walker, 1855) • (Herrich-Schäffer, 1856) • Druce, 1886 • Lemaire, 2002 • (Walker, 1855) • (R. Felder & Rogenhofer, 1874) • Druce, 1886 • Lemaire, 1982 • Lemaire, 1986 • Schaus, 1898 • Lemaire, 1976 • (Boisduval, 1875) • Lemaire, 1969 • Draudt, 1929 • Brechlin & Meister, 2008 • (R. Felder & Rogenhofer, 1874) • Naumann, Brosch & Wenczel, 2005 • Dyar, 1912 • (Walker, 1855) • Boisduval, 1859 • Dognin, 1911 • Schaus, 1906 • Dyar, 1912 • Druce, 1894 • Lemaire, 1966 • Conte, 1906 • Lemaire, 1972 • Draudt, 1929 • Naumann, Brosch & Wenczel, 2005 • Lemaire, 1967 • Bouvier, 1936 • (Cramer, 1775) • Lemaire, 2002 • (R. Felder & Rogenhofer, 1874) • Lemaire, 1969 • Lemaire, 1977 • Draudt, 1929 • Jordan, 1910 • Lemaire, 1969 • Lemaire, 1966 • Lemaire, 1966 • (Boisduval, 1875) • Lemaire, 1966 • Jordan, 1910 • Conte, 1906 • Schaus, 1906 • Lemaire, 1967 • Herbin, 2003 • (Walker, 1865) • Lemaire, 1982 • Lemaire & Amarillo, 1992 • (Walker, 1855) • (Walker, 1865) • Schaus, 1906 • (Walker, 1855) • (Fabricius, 1775) • (Walker, 1865) • (Cramer, 1775) • Dognin, 1890 • (Cramer, 1779) • Schaus, 1906 • Lemaire, 1982 • Naumann, Brosch & Wenczel, 2005 • Lemaire, 2002 • (Walker, 1855) • Oiticica Filho, 1965 • F. Johnson & M...

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