Eyespot-defense

Guides

• Automeris io

  Io moth, peacock moth

  Automeris io is a colorful North American saturniid moth with sexual dimorphism in adult coloration: males are bright yellow, females reddish-brown to purple. Both sexes possess distinctive eyespots on the hindwings used in anti-predator displays. The caterpillars are gregarious, bright green with red and white lateral stripes, and possess venomous urticating spines that cause painful stings. Adults are nocturnal, lack functional mouthparts, and live 1–2 weeks. Populations have declined in parts of their range, particularly in New England, due to habitat loss and parasitism by introduced biological control agents.

  SaturniidaeHemileucinaeurticating-caterpillareyespot-defensesexual-dimorphismgregarious-larvaenocturnaldeclining-populationsparasitoid-impactsNorth-America

• Papilio rumiko

  western giant swallowtail

  Papilio rumiko, the western giant swallowtail, is a large swallowtail butterfly species recognized in 2014 based on DNA evidence, having been previously confused with Papilio cresphontes. It ranges from the southwestern United States through Mexico and Central America to Panama. The species exhibits classic giant swallowtail morphology with distinctive yellow banding patterns and maroon eyespots on the hindwings.

  swallowtailgiant-swallowtailwestern-giant-swallowtailRutaceae-feederdefensive-osmeteriummimicrybird-dropping-mimicryeyespot-defense