#hemileucinae

[mothclock]

Automeris hamata

[carnegiemuseumnaturalhistory]

Poisons of the Carnegie: Io Moth

Female Io moth

Male Io moth 

by Vanessa Verdecia

The Io moth (Automeris io) is in the subfamily Hemileucinae, which belongs in the family called Saturniidae—the Giant Silkworm Moths. Caterpillars in the hemileucine subfamily have urticating spines that are filled with poison. There are many different species in this group, some more toxic than others. 

The Io moth occurs here in Pennsylvania as well as other parts of the eastern United States. The last instar of the caterpillar is green and has a red and white stripe down the side as seen in the image below.

The caterpillar is covered in spines that can break off and embed themselves in one’s skin if it is handled. The broken spines cause an irritation on the skin that can last for some time after the sting. Seen above are pictures of the adult male and female moths from the Carnegie collection. The female moth has a wingspan of about 8 centimeters and is reddish-brown in appearance, while the male has yellow wings and is a little smaller. They both have eyespots on the hindwings which serve as a defense mechanism against predators, such as birds, that might confuse them for an animal looking back at them.

This summer is all about poison at Carnegie Museum of Natural History. Staff will be sharing fascinating pieces of our collection that are toxic, poisonous, or venomous to celebrate our summer blockbuster exhibition The Power of Poison. For more information about this highly interactive, family-friendly exhibition, visit pop.carnegiemnh.org.

[2187px]

love confession: i love u lots you're the best most cutest boy in all the land and i hope you have a fabulous day<333

awww rachel i love you you absolute supercutie <333 i hope you'll have a great day!!!! x

[astronomy-to-zoology]

Juno Buck Moth (Hemileuca juno)

...a species of buck moth (hemileucinae) that is native to the Southwest United States, south into Sonora, Mexico. They typically inhabit desert scrub and mesquite woodlands. Adults fly from late September to early December and do not feed. Larvae will feed mainly on various mesquite species (Prosopis sp.).

Classification

Animalia-Arthropoda-Insecta-Lepidoptera-Bombycoidea-Saturniidae-Hemileucinae-Hemileucini-Hemileuca-H. juno

Images: Jillian Cowles and Bob Beatson