Some trees listed as hosts are apple, black locust, cherry, hackberry, hickory, maple, and oak. Life Cycle, Description, and Habits The Io moth overwinters as a pupa in a thin, brown cocoon in debris and litter on the ground. Coloration varies from yellow to tan, reddish brown, to purplish red. Each hind wing has a large, dark, circular eyespot. These spots, to a potential predator, may appear to be eyes of some animal and, thereby, serve to defend the moth against predation.
Females lay eggs in clusters.
Larvae are present during June-October. Head and body are yellowish green. There is a broad white line along each side, bordered above and below by thin red lines. Prolegs and thoracic legs are red. Raised tubercles bearing whorls of branched spines occur on each segment along the back of the body.