Io Moth Emerges

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A few months back, an Io Moth caterpillar spun its cocoon while we watched through the plastic container in the kitchen. He started spinning straight away, and being one of the stinging caterpillar variety, I didn’t want to handle him too much for photos. I’ve been hit by him before — it really hurts.

If you’re curious what the Io Moth caterpillar looks like, and to see the beautiful dorsal eyespots on the adult’s wings, go check out Automeris Io on Wikipedia. Only time would tell whether it would be an early emergence early or an over-winter like some other moth species have done.

Judging from the little face and antenna clearly outlined underneath his casing, we knew to wait a little longer.

So wait we did…for three months.

And in early morning last week, he (it’s a male) arrived, antennae already poised to ‘receive’ the pheromone signal from a potential mate.

I would have taken more and better photos, but he flew off the stick before I had the chance. The iPhone’s camera single grainy photo will have to do this time.

Someone desperately needed some nooky after his three-month long nap.

Io Moth – Adult Male

Related posts:

• Black Witch: ‘Moth’erly Love
• Shimmering Charades: Yard Butterflies
• It’s the (Exoskeleton) Little Things

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Do you enjoy the insects as much as we do?