The Io Moth, Automeris io, is sexually dimorphic, males having bright yellow forewings, body, and legs, while females have reddish brown forewings, body, and legs. The males also have much bigger plumose (feathery) antennae than the females. Both have one big black to bluisheyespot with some white in the center, on each hindwing, a defense mechanism meant to frighten off potential predators. The caterpillars turn bright green and have many spines that cause a lot of pain if touched. The spines have a poison that is released with the slightest touch. The Io Moth is depicted here on the Eastern Redbud, Forest Pansy, Cercis canadensis.
