Io moth
Automeris io
Moth
The Io moth is a giant silk moth (family Saturniidae) whose adults bear large dark hindwing eyespots used in a defensive startle display. Its larvae are highly polyphagous, feeding on the foliage of dozens of woody and herbaceous plants across many genera. Handle the caterpillars with care: the bright green larvae are covered in branched urticating spines that deliver a painful sting on contact. Adults do not feed and live only to mate, so the species' garden impact is entirely the leaf-feeding larval stage.
Plan for this species
Location-fit plant set for Chicago, IL: host and specialist plants first, then nectar, fruit, seed, foliage, and shelter plants that still fit the current and mid-century climate read.
6 essential relationships / 0 supporting plants
Host/specialist links: 6
Forage/pollination links: 0
Shelter links: 0
Relationship roles: 1
Allegheny blackberry
Essential / Larval host plants
UF/IFAS lists Rubus (blackberry) as a documented Io moth larval host; allegheny blackberry is Rubus allegheniensis (genus-level inference).
American red raspberry
Essential / Larval host plants
Rubus (blackberry/raspberry) is a documented Io moth host per UF/IFAS; red raspberry is Rubus idaeus (genus-level inference).
Black willow
Essential / Larval host plants
UF/IFAS and BAMONA list Salix (willow) as a documented Io moth larval host; black willow is Salix nigra (genus-level inference).
Chinese redbud
Essential / Larval host plants
UF/IFAS lists Cercis (redbud) as a documented Automeris io larval host; for Chinese redbud (Cercis chinensis) this is a genus-level inference rather than a species-specific citation.
Common hackberry
Essential / Larval host plants
UF/IFAS and BAMONA list Celtis (hackberry) as a documented Io moth larval host; common hackberry is Celtis occidentalis (genus-level inference).
Eastern cottonwood
Essential / Larval host plants
Populus (cottonwood/poplar) is a documented Io moth host per UF/IFAS, with eastern cottonwood named; genus-level inference.
Plants in the catalog
Larval host plants · 14
UF/IFAS lists Rubus (blackberry) as a documented Io moth larval host; allegheny blackberry is Rubus allegheniensis (genus-level inference).
Rubus (blackberry/raspberry) is a documented Io moth host per UF/IFAS; red raspberry is Rubus idaeus (genus-level inference).
UF/IFAS and BAMONA list Salix (willow) as a documented Io moth larval host; black willow is Salix nigra (genus-level inference).
UF/IFAS lists Cercis (redbud) as a documented Automeris io larval host; for Chinese redbud (Cercis chinensis) this is a genus-level inference rather than a species-specific citation.
UF/IFAS and BAMONA list Celtis (hackberry) as a documented Io moth larval host; common hackberry is Celtis occidentalis (genus-level inference).
Populus (cottonwood/poplar) is a documented Io moth host per UF/IFAS, with eastern cottonwood named; genus-level inference.
UF/IFAS (EENY-608) lists Cercis (redbud) as a documented Automeris io larval host; this eastern redbud is a genus-level inference.
Rubus (raspberry/blackberry) is a documented Io moth larval host; Rubus odoratus is inferred at the genus level.
Salix (willow) is a documented Io moth host per UF/IFAS; pussy willow is Salix discolor (genus-level inference).
UF/IFAS lists Populus (aspen/poplar/cottonwood) as a documented Io moth larval host, with quaking aspen named; genus-level inference.
UF/IFAS (EENY-608) lists Acer (maple) as a documented Io moth larval host; red maple is Acer rubrum (genus-level inference).
Acer (maple) is a documented Io moth host per UF/IFAS; sugar maple is Acer saccharum (genus-level inference).
Salix (willow) is a documented Io moth host per UF/IFAS; weeping willow is Salix babylonica (genus-level inference).
UF/IFAS lists Cercis (redbud) as an Io moth host; western redbud (Cercis occidentalis) is a genus-level inference, not species-cited.
Range
Found across eastern and central North America, from southern Canada (Manitoba to Nova Scotia) south through the eastern and central United States to southern Florida and Texas, extending west to the Rocky Mountain states.
Sources & citations
Cite this page
Use this citation for the Plotwright wildlife record. Use the source cards below to explore the references that informed its taxonomy, range, conservation, host plants, foraging, and habitat.
Plotwright. (n.d.). Io moth (Automeris io). Retrieved 2026, August 20, from https://plotwright.com/wildlife/io-moth
Sources used for this record
This record is compiled from the sources below.
BAMONA: Io moth
Species profile for range, adult/larval lifecycle, broad host list, and urticating caterpillar caution.
MDC Field Guide: Io moth
State agency species account used for identification detail, larval and adult food, and life-cycle timing. Missouri-scoped, so it is not cited for continental range.
Wikipedia: Automeris io
Corroborating reference for eyespot display, non-feeding adults, polyphagous larvae, and stinging spines.
GBIF: Automeris io
GBIF returns an exact accepted match to Automeris io (usageKey 1866085) in family Saturniidae.
iNaturalist: Automeris io
iNaturalist resolves Automeris io to active taxon 82279, the io moth.