DISTRIBUTION:

Automeris larra (forewing length: males: 47-58mm; females: 62-73mm; wingspan: males: 82-105mm; females: 129-147mm) flies in
Brazil: Amapa, Amazonas, Mato Grosso, Rio de Janeiro, Parana, Rio Grande Do Sul;
French Guiana: Route de Cayenne a Regina, Piste Coralie, Kaw, Saint-Jean-du-Maroni, Saul;
Venezuela: Amazonas, Bolivar;
Ecuador: Orellana and Napo.

There may also be populations in
Surinam, Guyana, Colombia and Peru.

This moth (one specimen) has also been reported in Costa Rica: Alajuela???

This species flies at elevations between sea level and 400m.

Determining Automeris species is becoming more and more difficult as there are a considerable number of very similar species, even some that are sympatric.

As of the end of 2011 there are now twelve Automeris species in the Egeus Group. I am hoping that the following keys on the Egeus Group Comparison Chart will help me and others with determinations. Location, wingspan, elevation can all be very helpful in making more accurate determinations. In some cases DNA barcoding analysis might be required to reach an accurate identification.

Automeris larra male, courtesy of Bernhard Wenczel

Automeris larra male, courtesy of Jurgen Vanhoudt.

Automeris larra male, Rio Tiputini, Orellana, Ecuador,
90mm, October, 2007, 300m, courtesy of Terry Stoddard.

Automeris larra male, Misahualli, Napo, Ecuador,
90mm, October, 2007, 400m, courtesy of Terry Stoddard.

Lemaire groups egeus, larra, boops, niepelti and postalbida with niepelti and albida flying on western slopes of the Andes. The abdomen is orange, the basal area of the hindwing is orange and the submarginal band of the hindwing is black (or dark red brown) in this grouping.

Automeris larra December, Saint-Jean-du-Maroni, French Guiana,
courtesy of Antoine Guyonnet.

Automeris larra male, Regina, French Guiana,
February 24, 2006, courtesy of Alex Cahurel.

Niepelti and postalbida (western slopes) have very dark rings, lacking in the other three species, on the dorsal surface of the abdomen. I am pretty sure, however, that the female depicted below is A. larra. Although the rings are not black, they are darker than other portions of the abdomen.

Automeris larra female abdomen, Misahualli, Napo, Ecuador,
March 3-4, 2009, courtesy of Steve Ife, id by Bill Oehlke.

Automeris larra female, Misahualli, Napo, Ecuador,
March 3-4, 2009, courtesy of Steve Ife, id by Bill Oehlke.

Niepelti has the submarginal band of the hindwing deeply notched and the pupil is often completely covered with white scales. Postalbida pupil is large and ovate, with the appearance of an egg, lying on its side when the moth is spread.

Egeus has the distinctive, small black pupil surrounded by a white "iris".

The eyespot of boops has a large dark pupil and a broader outer black ring than found in either egeus or larra. The submarginal band of larra is more deeply notched than that of boops.

Automeris larra female, Misahualli, Ecuador, courtesy of Leroy Simon.

Automeris larra, courtesy of Leroy Simon.

Automeris larra male, French Guiana,
courtesy of Eric van Schayck.

Automeris larra can usually be distinguished from A. egeus by the following characters of A. larra: generally smaller size, more rounded wing shape, pm line that is not as broadly preapical, a larger hindwing pupil (usually sprinkled or split with/by white scaling) in a usually smaller eyespot. Males of A. larra also tend to be lighter in overall appearance. This species is generally taken at lower elevations (up to 400m).

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

French Guiana: January-February, October-November
Venezuela: May-June
Ecuador: March, July, October (TS)
Brazil: September, November

In many cases, flights are probably more extensive than listed.

The natural larval hosts are unknown; Kirby Wolfe reports success with Malus pumila.

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.

Automeris larra hatchling on Rubus fruticosus,
courtesy of Jurgen Vanhoudt.

Automeris larra final instar on Rubus fruticosus,
courtesy of Jurgen Vanhoudt.

Automeris larra sixth instar, Misahualli, Ecuador, courtesy of Leroy Simon.

Listed below are primary food plant(s) and alternate food plants listed in Stephen E. Stone's Foodplants of World Saturniidae and/or from personal communication (Rainer Plontke; Alam Marson; Jurgen Vanhoudt). 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.

Malus pumila ............... Quercus robur (AM) Rubus fruticosus (JV) Rubus idaeus (RP)

Apple Pedunculate Oak, Common Oak, English Oak Blackberry Himbeere/Autum Bliss Raspberry

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Automeris larra female, Kaw, French Guiana,
November, Jean Paul Passelecq, on my home computer only, photo copyright Rene Lahousse.

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