DISTRIBUTION:

The Automeris randa moth (wingspan: males: 84-94mm; females: 90-110mm) flies in
Mexico: Sonora, Sinaloa, Durango, Jalisco; and in the
Peloncillo Mountains of Arizona and in New Mexico.

A. randa habitat, Geronimo's Trail, Douglas, Arizona, courtesy of Russell Witkop.

A. randa habitat, Geronimo's Trail, Douglas, Arizona, courtesy of Russell Witkop.

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 randa/excreta group, Mexico, courtesy of Dr. Manuel A. Balcazar Lara,
possibly Automeris oaxacensis

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Moths are on the wing from late June to early August with peak eclosions in late July. Larvae feed on oaks and spiny hackberry in the wild.

Automeris randa (female), Mexico, courtesy of Eric van Schayck.

Automeris randa female, Sinaloa, Mexico,
courtesy of Viktor Suter.

Automeris randa moth courtesy of Scott Smith.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Moths emerge from mid morning to mid afternoon and become active that same evening after 9:30 pm.

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 between 10:00 pm and midnight. Pairings are usually brief, lasting less than an hour.

Automeris randa (male), Mexico, courtesy of Eric van Schayck.

EGGS, LARVAE, COCOONS AND PUPAE:

Eggs are deposited in large clusters and larvae are highly gregarious until fourth and fifth instars when they feed in pairs or singly. There are as many as seven instars with larvae approaching 80 mm. Urticating spines offer the Automeris randa larvae much protection and unlike other U.S. Automeris species, randa has the ability to tilt thoracic spines forward. Photo courtesy of Steven Stone.

Automeris randa first instars, Arizona, courtesy of Leroy Simon.

Automeris randa third instars, Arizona, courtesy of Leroy Simon.

Automeris randa fourth instar (defensive pose), Arizona, courtesy of Leroy Simon.

Automeris randa fifth instar, Arizona, courtesy of Leroy Simon.

Automeris randa final instar, Sinaloa, Mexico,
courtesy of Viktor Suter.

Automeris randa cocoons and pupae, Sonora, Mexico,
courtesy of Jurgen Vanhoudt.

Automeris randa male pupa, Sonora, Mexico,
courtesy of 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.

Celtis pallida Prunus serotina Quercus gambelli Quercus palustris..... Quercus rubra

Spiny hackberry Wild blackcherry Gambel oak Pin oak Northern red oak

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