DISTRIBUTION:

The Automeris excreta moth (wingspan: males: 83-107mm; females: 98-110mm) flies in
Mexico: Michoacan, Hidalgo, Mexico, Veracruz, Guerrero, Oaxaca, Chiapas;
Guatemala: Alta Verapaz, Huehuetenango, Baja Verapaz (1656m), Zacapa, Quetzaltenango, Chimaltenango, Sacatepequez; and
Honduras: Cortes, Olancho (1420m), Ocotepeque, Francisco Morazan; usually at elevations over 1000m.

The very similar Automeris tridens flies at much lower altitudes, and that helped me determine the Automeris excreta females from Cerca Pululha, Baja Verapaz, Guatemala (1656m), courtesy of Paul Holt, via Alan Marson. Subsequent female and males (light forewing and dark forewing forms), ex ova, as well as final instar, are also depicted via above link.

Automeris excreta male, 103mm, Hidalgo Mexico,
courtesy of Kelly Price id by Bill Oehlke.

In their Entomo-Satsphingia Yahrgang 4 Heft 2, 2011, 29.06.2011 publication, Brechlin and Meister removed A. pelaezi, Beutelspacher, 1988, from synonymy with Automeris excreta. I believe specimens from the Pacific Coast of Mexico: Guerrero and Oaxaca, that have a more even orange ground colour in the hindwing, compared to the more strongly contrasting red and yellow found in A. excreta are more likely Automeris pelaezi which also seems to have the yellow on facing sides of the forewing lines greatly reduced compared to A. excreta. I think there is a good possibility that the specimen directly below from Guerrero, is more likely Automeris pelaezi. (Bill Oehlke).

Automeris excreta/pelaezi??, male, 93mm, Guerrero, Mexico,
courtesy of Kelly Price tentative id by Bill Oehlke.

Lemaire groups randa, excreta, tridens, molonyei, oaxacensis and andicola based on genitalia and orange, non-ringed abdomen, and usually diffuse yellow ring of eyespot, and yellow hw postmedial line usually without black scaling internally, except for molonyei.

Automeris excreta (male), Guatemala, courtesy of Eric van Schayck.

Automeris excreta male, La Muralla National Park, Olancho, Honduras,
92mm, October 13, 1995, 1420m, courtesy of Robert Lehman, tentative id by Bill Oehlke.

Automeris excreta male, La Muralla National Park, Olancho, Honduras,
85mm, October 13, 1995, 1420m, courtesy of Robert Lehman, tentative id by Bill Oehlke.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Moths are on the wing May-September in Mexico with additional flights reported from Guatemala for December-February. Paul Holt, via Alan Marson, reports an August flight in Baja Verapaz, Guatemala.

Alan Marson reports, "I have appended some more images of the Automeris excreta larvae from eggs supplied by Paul Holt ( Visit link near bottom of page). They are from two batches designated + (fed on Rhamnus) and * (fed on Bramble/Rubus). It seems that they will eat a wide range of foliage."

Alan has also supplied images of live male and female adults, ex ova.

Automeris excreta, Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico,
September, 2010, courtesy of Thibaud Decaens.

If my identifications from Honduras are correct, there is an October flight in that country.

Automeris excreta male, San Cristobal de la Casas, Chiapas, Mexico,
April 12, 2013, 2200m, courtesy of Lauren Zarate,
tentative id by Bill Oehlke.

Automeris excreta is a more montane species compared to either A. oaxacensis or A. tridens. A view of the hindwing ventral surface is useful in trying to be more accurate with determinations. The specimen directly above might be something undescribed. Quite possibly there are several different species depicted on this page.

Automeris excreta larvae feed on Prunus, Pyrus malus and Robinia pseudoacacia. Alan Marson reports Rhamnus and Rubus.

Automeris excreta (female), Guatemala, courtesy of Eric van Schayck.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

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

Automeris excreta female by Viktor Suter, courtesy of Bernhard Wenczel.

EGGS, LARVAE, COCOONS AND PUPAE:

Larvae are gregarious and have urticating spines. Photo courtesy of Leroy Simon.

Automeris excreta larva by Viktor Suter, courtesy of Bernhard Wenczel.

Automeris excreta sixth instar, Guatemala,
courtesy of Alan Marson.

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.

Prunus Pyrus malus Rhamnus (AM) Robinia pseudoacacia ..... Rubus (AM)

Cherry/Plum Apple Buckthorn Black locust/False acacia Bramble

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