DISTRIBUTION:

The Automeris boucardi moth (wingspan: males: 57-63mm; females: 85-91mm) flies in
Costa Rica: Cartago, San Jose; and
Guatemala: Huehuetenango as a montane species.

Jean Michel Maes reports it from Nicaragua: Matagalpa.

The accented venation of the baso-median area of the forewings and of the median area of the hindwings helps to identify this species.

Automeris boucardi female, Kiri Lodge, Orosi, Cartago, Costa Rica,
4000 feet, May 6, 2008, courtesy/copyright Leroy Simon.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Larvae probably would accept Fagus and Salix.

Specimens have been taken in February (April in Nicaragua), (May in Cartago, Costa Rica) and July.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Males use their more highly developed antennae to seek out females who release an airbourne pheromone into the night sky.

EGGS, LARVAE, COCOONS AND PUPAE:

Eggs are deposited in clusters of 6-40+ on hostplant twigs. Larvae have urticating spines and are gregarious, especially in the early instars.

Larval Food Plants

It is hoped that this alphabetical listing followed by the common name of the foodplant will prove useful. The list is not exhaustive. Experimenting with closely related foodplants is worthwhile.

Fagus Laburnum....... Salix

Beech Bean tree Willow

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