DISTRIBUTION:

Automeris lauta (wingspan: males: 68-83mm; females: 94-95mm) flies in
Mexico: Veracruz??, Chiapas;
Honduras: Cortes, Ocotepeque, Olancho (RC);
and Guatemala: Baja Verapaz;
at middle altitudes (1500-1700m).

Automeris lauta male, Cortes, Honduras, courtesy/copyright Eduardo Marabuto.

The forewing has a pointed apex. The outer margin is concave just below the apex and then slightly convex from M3 to the anal angle. Ground colour is dark brown with a purplish shade in the outer median area. The dark, preapical, concave pm line is inwardly bordered with yellow. The am line is very irregular. There are cadmium scales in the submarginal area. The cell, outlined in black, is lighter than surrounding areas.

Purplish brown/gray and pinkish hairs cover the median area and the inner margin of the hindwing. The pupil usually has a white streak and suffusion of white scales. The median band is black, thick and even, outwardly bordered with a yellow band, then a dark brown band another yellow band and an orangey-brown outer margin.

It is quite difficult to distinguish this species from Automeris anika from Oaxaca, Mexico.

Automeris lauta male, 80mm, Baja Verapaz, Guatemala,
on my home computer only.

Automeris lauta male, Mexico,
courtesy of Eric van Schayck

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Specimens have been taken in April, June, July and August.

Natural hosts are unknown. Kirby Wolfe reports rearing success with Robinia pseudoacacia.

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 lauta male, courtesy of Kirby Wolfe, copyright protected.

Automeris lauta female, Mexico,
courtesy of Eric van Schayck

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 lauta larva, courtesy of Kirby Wolfe, copyright protected.

Automeris lauta fifth instar, Cortes, Honduras, courtesy/copyright Eduardo Marabuto.

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.

Robinia pseudoacacia.......

False acacia

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