Io Moth Automeris io Family: Saturniidae,  Subfamily:  Hemileucinae Tribe:  Hemileucini,  Hodges # 7746 Immatures Home  -  Butterflies  -  Details Specimen First  Instars - emerged  6 June -  photos 13 June 2013 Molting to Second Instar - 16 June 2013 Second Instar -  8 mm Long -  20 June 2013 Just after Molting to Third Instars - 24 June 2013 Four of their discarded head cases and  some spines from the molt Third Instar  15 mm on 27 June 2013 Third Instar  15 mm on 27 June 2013 Fourth Instars - 1 July 2013 Fourth Instars - 5 July 2013 Fourth Instars - 5 July 2013 Fourth Instars - 5 July 2013 Fifth Instars - Molted to 5th Instar on 7 July 2013 - 28 mm Fifth Instars - Molted to 5th Instar  on 7 July 2013 - 28 mm The small  yellow one has molted at the same time as the others but has stayed small. #1 Fifth Instars on 9 July - 40 mm #1 Fifth Instar - 9 July 2013 - 40 mm long #2 Fifth Instar - 9 July 2013 - 40 mm long #1 Fifth Instar walked off the plant and walked around  then got back on and silked two leaves together #1 Fifth Instar inside nest #1 and #2 Molted to Sixth Instar on 15 July 2013 Photo of #2 on 17 July 2013 - 55 mm long #1 and #2 Molted to Sixth Instar on 15 July 2013 Photo of #2 on 17 July 2013 - 55 mm long Pupa was cut from one cocoon to photograph then  replaced in pupa and wrapped in a  paper towel to hibernate PHOTO DETAILS - ©Nicky Davis LOCATION:  Unknown ELEVATION: Unknown LIFE HISTORY: Ova: Ova received 28 May 2013, and larvae emerged 6 June 2013.   Larvae: They were given willow and poplar but  did not eat either of these plants. They were then given Choke Cherry - Prunus virginiana and they did begin to eat those leaves. I was given five of the larvae 12 June 2013 and I continued feeding them Choke Cherry. They are orange/brown with spikes that are dark at the tips.  They feed gregariously or as a group at this stage and prefer to rest and feed underneath the leaves. Second Instars - Molted to second instars. on 16 June 2013. Second Instars - photo  on 20 June 2013 at 8 mm long Second Instars - eight days as second instars Third Instars - They walked off leaf and moved to a new one to molt.  They  molted to third instars 24 June 2013 Third Instars - On 27 June 2013, the largest larva has stripes is 15 mm long. Third Instars - Seven days as third instars. Fourth Instars - On 29 June they all walked off the leaf they were eating and went to a new leaf to molt.  On 1 July 2013 they molted to fourth instar.  Fourth Instars - 5 July, 2013 - Moved to a new leaf and silked the end of the new leaf up to the other side.  Fifth Instars - 7 July 2013 - Molted to 5th instars on 7 July 2013.  They are 27-28 mm long on the 7th. The largest went to the back of the leaf alone. They appear to be splitting up the group now that  they are fifth instars. Fifth Instars - 9 July 2013 - Photos  of #1 and #2 - 40 mm long. Sixth Instars-  15 July 2013 - Photos of #2 - 55 mm long. Cocoon - #1 spun cocoon on 25 July 2013, 49 days after emerging from ovum. On 5 August 2013 one pupa was cut from its cocoon to photograph then replaced in pupa and wrapped in a  paper towel to hibernate. Pupa:  Overwinter as pupa in a cocoon Adult:  unknown Broods: one Larvae: 49-51 days Hibernation: Pupae hibernate Host Plant Choke Cherry - Prunus virginiana  var. melanocarpa