Automeris hebe

Automeris hebe
(Walker, 1865) Hyperchiria

Automeris hebe courtesy of Bernhard Wenczel.

Automeris hebe male, 57mm, Oaxaca, Mexico,
on my home computer only.

TAXONOMY:

Superfamily: Bombycoidea, Latreille, 1802
Family: Saturniidae, Boisduval, [1837] 1834
Subfamily: Hemileucinae, Grote & Robinson, 1866
Tribe: Hemileucini, Grote & Robinson, 1866
Genus: Automeris, Hubner, [1819]

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"Someone to Watch Over Me"
copyright C. Odenkirk
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DISTRIBUTIION:

The Automeris hebe moth (wingspan: males: 47-59mm; females: 55-66mm) flies at high elevations (up to 9000ft) in
central and western Mexico: Hidalgo, Guerrero, Morelos, Distrito Federal, Mexico, Oaxaca: Mixtepec, as a montane species.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Moths are on the wing in April-May-June.

Automeris hebe larval hosts are unknown.

Automeris hebe male, Mixtepec, Oaxaca, Mexico,
June 20, 2001, courtesy of John Kamps.

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.

EGGS, LARVAE, COCOONS AND PUPAE:

Eggs are deposited in large clusters and larvae are highly gregarious.

Urticating spines offer the Automeris hebe larvae much protection.

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.

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