DISTRIBUTION:

Automeris celata (wingspan: males: 60-66mm; females: 70mm // forewing length: males: 33-36mm; females: 40mm) flies in
Costa Rica: Cartago (HT, 1200m), Alajuela, Guanacaste, Heredia, Limon, Puntarenas, San Jose;
Alajuela: Area de Conservacion Guanacaste: Estacion San Gerardo, 10.8801, -85.3889, R.Franco & F.Quesada, 2006-01-29 (Mirror); Panama: Chiriqui, Bocas del Toro.

Possibly it flies as far north as Jinotega in northern Nicaragua.

This moth might? be replaced by recently (2011) described Automeris paracelata in some areas of Costa Rica or in Panama, or it may fly with Automeris paracelata which has much less suffusion of yellow-orange scales in the median area.

This species is also somewhat similar to A. montezuma and examination of genitalia may be necessary to distinguish some specimens taken in Costa Rica.

Forewings veins of Automeris celata seem accentuated and I do not observe the yellow dots at the intersection of the veins and the pm line.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Specimnes have been taken in March, June, September, November and January in Costa Rica; March-July in Panama. Larvae feed on Adelia triloba and Cordia.

In Europe, Bernhard Wenczel reports Quercus is used with some success.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Females extend a scent gland from the tip of the abdomen. Males use highly developed antennae to track the airbourne pheromone to locate the females.

Automeris celata male, Santa Maura, Nicaragua,
courtesy of Jean-Michael Maes, very tentative id by Bill Oehlke.

Automeris celata (male top) and (female bottom) courtesy of Dan Janzen.

Automeris celata female courtesy of Leroy Simon.

EGGS, LARVAE, COCOONS, AND PUPAE:

Eggs are deposited in large clusters and larvae are highly gregarious. Urticating spines offer the Automeris celata larvae much protection and the spines are extremely dense in the early instars. Dan Janzen image.

In the final instar the larvae get quite plump, spreading the armaments somewhat.

This fifth instar larva has retained mostly green colourtion and will shortly descend tree trunk to pupate in a light cocoon amongst the leaf litter.

Automeris celata fifth instar, courtesy of Leroy Simon.

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.

Adelia triloba........ Cordia Quercus

Adelia triloba Cordia Oak

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