Io Moth Caterpillar

Natural Habitat

Fields, forests, and gardens throughout North America, often on host plants like redbud, hibiscus, willow, and oak.

Diet & Feeding

Herbivorous; feeds on a wide variety of plants including birch, clover, corn, elm, maple, and various fruit trees.

Behavior Patterns

Larvae are gregarious in early instars, often traveling in single-file processions. As they mature, they become more solitary. They undergo five to six instars before pupating in a thin, papery cocoon among leaf litter.

Risks & Benefits

Risk: Possesses venomous urticating spines that can cause painful stings, swelling, and rashes in humans. Benefit: Adults are important pollinators and serve as a food source for birds and small mammals.

Identified on: 6/6/2026