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

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

From Project Gutenberg