For the caterpillars never
stopped the fun, even the years when they were most numerous.
The eggs laid by my female never hatched, so I do not know this
caterpillar in its early stages from experience, but I had enough
experience with it in my early stages, that I do not care if I
never raise one. No doubt it attains maturity by the same series
of moults as the others, and its life history is quite similar.
The full-fed caterpillars spin among the leaves on the ground,
and with their spines in mind, I would much prefer finding a cocoon,
and producing a moth from that stage of its evolution.
The following season I had the good fortune to secure a male and
female Io at the same time and by persistence induced them to pose
for me on an apple branch. There was no trouble in securing the
male as I desired him, with wings folded showing the spots, lining
and flushing of colour. But the female was a perverse little body
and though I tried patiently and repeatedly she would not lower
her wings full width.
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