A strikingly green caterpillar about as long as my little finger was attached to a sprig of oak leaves in our yard. Knowing the caterpillar with spikes on its back was the larvae of an Io silkworm ...

This is the caterpillar of an Io moth, a species of silk moth that so intrigues entomologist Andrei Sourakov that he’s endured a number of the larva’s bee-like stings while studying various specimens.

See more of our trusted coverage when you search. Prefer Newsweek on Google to see more of our trusted coverage when you search. A five-spotted hawk moth squirming its way out of its hard cocoon ...

Late fall and early winter are the best times of year to spot giant silk moth cocoons in New England. Perhaps you’ve seen these creatures in the summer, fluttering by your porch light in the evening ...

Don't miss the big stories. Like us on Facebook. Late fall and early winter are the best times of year to spot giant silk moth cocoons in New England. Perhaps you’ve seen these creatures in the summer ...