A Menacing Stare

Enough to make a predator think again when the Io (aka Peacock) moth flashes the big "eyes" on its under wings. 

In Greek mythology Io was a nymph loved by Zeus and transformed into a white heifer to hide her from his jealous wife Hera. But Hera found out about the deception and demanded the heifer from Zeus who had no choice but to hand her over. 

Then Hera set Argus, a giant with a hundred eyes, to watch over the heifer and see that there was no hanky-panky. 

But Zeus sent Hermes to the rescue and Hermes decapitated the giant. Hera, as a consolation prize, set the giant's hundred eyes in the tail of the peacock.

After much wandering, Io was returned to human form.  And the peacock eye on the moth inspired someone to name it for this beleaguered nymph. Whew!

I found this critter on the floor of my workroom. In perfect condition but dead, alas. One of the windows has a fan in it but no screen which is likely how it got in. I only hope it had time to breed and/or lay eggs before it came in.