Descriptive Qualities:
Range
Io's range is the eastern half of the US. From Maine to Florida to mid-Texas to the Dakotas.
Map of this moth's Area:
Eggs and Larva
Depending on the particular size of the moth, female Io moths have approximately 100 - 200 eggs. Io larva are orange in 1st and 2nd instars. In most cases, they turn green in 3rd instar, with a white and red stripe running along their middle. The remain this way through 4th and 5th instar also. Io larva are extremely gregarious in all instars. Io larva in all stages have spines on them. Touching them with out gloves of some sort will most likely sting your hand.
Scenting and Mating
Female Io usually put their scent out from directly after dark until about 2 AM. The males may come in at any time during this period. It is easiest to put the female in a metal cage with holes big enough that they can mate through it (about a half inch or 3/4 inch hole should do nicely) but small enough that the female cannot escape. That is the best way to do it if you don't have the luxury of staying up all night to watch them. I usually stay up and wait for the males to come in, and then put them with the female. This way is the only real way to tell how many came in. Io's usually only mate for about an hour, so it is important to keep close observation on them if you want to know for sure that they mated.
Cocoons
Io larva make very flimsy cocoons, made of one or two leaves, with very little silk. The cocoons can be pulled apart very easily. They usually fall to the ground with the leaves they were made on.
Personal Markings or Characteristics
The male Io moth is yellow with red on the bottom wings. The female Io moth is red/brown on both wings. Both sexes have large eye spots on their bottom wings to scare predators. Io's only expose their bottom wings when disturbed.
Caring For Ios, In All Stages:
Here are some notes that may be helpful when trying to raise Io larva, especially if it's your first time raising them.Caring for the eggs
To care for Io eggs, just put them in a small container. It is best to be small, because the larva like to crawl a lot when they first hatch, and if you put them in a bigger container, they will crawl away from the food you put in with them, and might not be able to get back. That's a lot of area for such a small caterpillar.
Food Plants
Raising Io Larva (Inside)
Raising larva in buckets is mostly easy. Io's are failry tolerant of crowding. Keep fresh food provided, Io's have a large appetite and will chew through screening.
Raising Io Larva (Outside)
Putting Io larva in a sleeve proves to work well. They will require no special care and are mostly tolerant of crowding, more so in a net on a tree.
Caring for the cocoons
To care for Io cocoons, just put the cocoons in a container and store them outside or in the fridge. If in the fridge, it is important that you watch the cocoons closely. If you do not spray them periodically, they may dry out and die.
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