Polilla Io
Automeris io
Polilla
La polilla Io es una polilla de seda gigante (familia Saturniidae) cuyos adultos presentan grandes ocelos oscuros en las alas posteriores utilizados en una exhibición defensiva de susto. Sus larvas son altamente polífagas y se alimentan del follaje de decenas de plantas leñosas y herbáceas de muchos géneros. Manipule las orugas con cuidado: las larvas de color verde brillante están cubiertas de espinas urticantes ramificadas que producen una picadura dolorosa al contacto. Los adultos no se alimentan y viven solo para aparearse, por lo que el impacto de la especie en el jardín corresponde enteramente a la etapa larval comedora de hojas.
Plants in the catalog
Plantas hospedantes de larvas · 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.
Distribución
Se encuentra en el este y centro de América del Norte, desde el sur de Canadá (Manitoba hasta Nueva Escocia) hacia el sur, a través del este y centro de los Estados Unidos hasta el sur de Florida y Texas, extendiéndose hacia el oeste hasta los estados de las Montañas Rocosas.