Io Moth
About the Io Moth
Males are bright yellow, females are reddish-brown — dramatic sexual dimorphism. Both have spectacular black-and-blue eyespots on their hindwings that they flash when disturbed. Their caterpillars are covered in venomous spines that cause intense stinging pain — one of the few venomous caterpillars in North America. The sting has been compared to a wasp sting. Named after Io, a priestess of Zeus in Greek mythology.
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