IO MOTH Definition & Meaning

Io moth

[ ahy-oh mawth, moth ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

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

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

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51�Թ� History and Origins

Origin of Io moth¹

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

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51�Թ� History and Origins

Origin of Io moth¹

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

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

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

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

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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.

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

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