Io moth

[ ahy-oh mawth, moth ]

noun

1. a showy, yellow moth, Automeris io, of North America, having a prominent, black-ringed eyespot on each hindwing: the larva has venomous stinging spines.

Io moth

noun

1. an American saturniid moth, Automeris io, bright yellow with a blue-and-pink eyelike spot on each of the hind wings

Word History and Origins

Origin of Io moth¹

First recorded in 1865–70; named after the mythological character Io ¹( def )

Word History and Origins

Origin of Io moth¹

C19: after Io ¹(who was tormented by a gadfly), referring to the sting of the larva

Example Sentences

The io moth is big but not scary until it exposes huge eyelike markings beneath its upper cape.

From Washington Post

Lawmakers this week introduced measures declaring the Io moth the state moth, Franklinite the state mineral and Thomas Alva Edison the state inventor.

From Washington Times

Multiply these horns over the surface of the body, lessen their size, and crown them with hairs, and we have our Io moth, so destructive to corn.

From Project Gutenberg

Long ago when the little ones of the Io Moth were small, they were, like most caterpillars, very ugly little things.

From Project Gutenberg