DISTRIBUTION:

The Automeris io lilith moth is possibly a colour variation of nominate io rather than a distinct subspecies (Lemaire). Sometimes called the Florida io moth, female io lilith moths (below) have a strong purplish hue associated with basic brown forewing colour. The hue is inconsistent, however, and seems more of a characteristic of spring broods in the South than a true subspecies character.

Vernon A. Brou, however, with extensive collecting experience in Louisiana, treats them as a subspecies. Males also have more orange-brown scaling (highly varied) on forewings than nominate io.

Reuben Judd, who rears them in Florida, indicates he obtains both the yellow form and the lilith form from the same brood stock, indicating a form rather than a subspecies. It is interesting that he notes, "They (ios) have very irregular eclosure patterns here. They started eclosing the first of March and were more or less done by the end of May although even yesterday I had a female eclose. Also I notice that the males have the "lilith" ssp. coloration sometimes and others are the normal bright yellow- is that io ssp. io? So to me, not a real subspecies since both parents are from my small urban yard. There were a lot more of the lilith form than the io form. Lilith form was generally larger as well, the bright yellow were all average to small. Females are quite big. I can take measurements if you are interested. I was told they are larger here in Florida on average but don't have a typical northern example for comparison so I can't comment."

Automeris io lilith female, Florida, courtesy/copyright Leroy simon

Automeris io lilith female, Marco Island, Collier County, Florida,
March 3, 2015, courtesy of David Wright.

The pronunciation of scientific names is troublesome for many. The "suggestion" at the top of the page is merely a suggestion. It is based on commonly accepted English pronunciation of Greek names and/or some fairly well accepted "rules" for latinized scientific names.

The suggested pronunciations, on this page and on other pages, are primarily put forward to assist those who hear with internal ears as they read.

There are many collectors from different countries whose intonations and accents would be different.

I am not aware of the source for Automeris, but io is from Io, who, in Greek mythology, is the daughter of the river god Inachus. She was loved by the god Zeus, who changed her into a white heifer to deceive her mother, Hera.

The subspecies name may be from the purplish-lilac overcast on the females that Strecker examined or he may simply have chosen a feminine name, Lilith.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Larvae feed on a variety of plants and accept those typically associated with nominate io.

Vernon reports Louisiana flights from March until November with first peak in early April, continuing to August with 83% of moths taken May-August. He suggests there may be as many as four broods annually at 46 day intervals.

Automeris io lilith male, Florida, courtesy/copyright of Leroy Simon.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Females extend a scent gland from the tip of the abdomen. Males use highly developed antennae to track the airbourne pheromone to locate the females. Pairing is often brief, and the pair seldom remain coupled for more than two hours.

EGGS, LARVAE, COCOONS, AND PUPAE:

Eggs are deposited in large clusters and larvae are highly gregarious. Urticating spines offer the Automeris io lilith larvae much protection.

Automeris io lilith, Louisiana, courtesy of Vernon Brou.

Automeris io lilith fifth instar, Florida, courtesy/copyright Leroy Simon.

Listed below are the primary and alternate food plants listed in Stephen E. Stone's Foodplants of World Saturniidae. It is hoped that this alphabetical listing followed by the common name of the foodplant will prove useful. The list is not exhaustive. Experimenting with closely related foodplants is worthwhile.

Amorpha fruticosa Cercis canadensis Conocarpus erectus...... Galactia Gossypium hirsutm Hibiscus Lichti chinensis Persea americana Prunus virginiana Prunus serotina Rhapis Rhizophora Rhododendron Serenoa repens Tabebuia argentea Turnera ulmifolia Zea mays

Bastard indigo Redbud Buttonwood Galactia Upland cotton Mallow Lichti Avocado Chokecherry Wild black cherry Lady palm Mangrove Azalea Saw palmetto Guayacan Yellow alder Cultivated corn/Maize

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Male and female Automeris io lilith courtesy of Leroy Simon.