Randy,

It's a record. You can submit caterpillar findings and they will be accepted. Last year I found a Dagger Moth caterpillar that was a county or state record, don't remember which. At John Fisher's recommendation, I kept it and this year when it eclosed or whatever moths do, I took a picture for John for verification. Since John Nelson did not have one in his collection, I gave the moth to him. I also found an Asteroid caterpillar last year which was a state record. I didn't raise it, as I left it in the area where I found it. But the caterpillar was evidence that the moths are here.

So submit your Io moth to John, and congrats! Ios are fun to raise--just not fun to get stung by! I have the dubious honor of brushing against one.

Sandy

Congrats, congrats, Randy!! I just love those ios - did you see his "eyes"?
I've never brushed up against an io moth cat, just a saddleback caterpillar - if they feel the same, I wouldn't recommend it.
Since you found the caterpillar in your yard, it's definitely local, so I don't know why your having protected him would matter.
Sherry

It wouldn't prevent you from reporting it as a county record, Randy. I've found tons of sphinxes, raised them, and recorded them, because if you find it in your county, then it is a good report.

Susan

Thanks ladies.

Sherry, the bugger is playing hard to get. No eyes yet. I wanted to wait to release until this afternoon hoping to see them.

randy

After posting I decided that no was not an option. There would be eyes to photograph. I very gently with 8" long twissors nudged the wings out in solar panel mode. :-)

{{gwi:467761}}

What a gorgeous dude!
Sherry

Wow - beautiful, Randy! Just beautiful! Congrats on your new friend, too!

Susan

Nice find Randy.

Human intervention is no problem at all with regards to records unless a species is intentionally transplanted to a new location to establish a colony or for the purpose of establishing a record. Yes it has been done, and by some very well known and published Lepidopterists who were eventually caught in the act.

This species has already been recorded from several counties around you, so a natural extension of its historic range to where you live is very believable. Please do report your find.

Larry

What a beautiful creature!

How do you know what has been recorded in your county or not?

John Nelson or John Fisher, I forget which, has created a rather comprehensive database on butterflies and moths found in the 77 counties of Oklahoma. We can check the database and submit photos to him so he can make the new recordings per county.

Susan